By Babatunde Ayedoju

In continuation of its efforts towards cushioning the effects of the current economic hardship on the masses, the Honourable Abiola Makinde and Dr Mrs. Rhoda Makinde Initiative (HAMDROMI), in conjunction with the Odatiwa Political Movement, has rounded off its distribution of food items to women in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo state.

The team on Wednesday visited six wards spread across Oda, Lisa, Iro, Oke-Aro and Ijomu in the local government area.

Addressing the beneficiaries, an official of HAMDROMI, Mrs. Ruth Lawal, said that the sponsor of the initiative, Honourable Makinde, though representing Ondo East and West Federal Constituency, extended the gesture to Akure South, so that women in the local government could enjoy the dividends of democracy as well.

Lawal, who urged the audience to exercise patience and continue to support the Honourable Lucky Aiyedatiwa administration, assured the women that more of such intervention would still come their way in the future.

“The state of the economy currently is a sign that there is light at the end of the tunnel and things will soon change for good. This is what happens when the society is about to experience positive transformation. Therefore, let’s keep our faith alive and believe that things will soon change for good,” she added.

Also speaking, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Mrs. Saka Adetokunbo Adetoro, described the programme as an effort towards extending dividends of democracy to the people of Akure South local government, adding that the sponsor is a lover of the masses.

She, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to continue to support the present government and work towards the political development of Ondo State.

The APC Chairman for Ward 6, Oda town, Mr Ajayi Kolawole, described the programme as a sign that the sponsor care so much about women in the grassroots, adding that the women should reciprocate by supporting the government of the day.

Likewise, APC Women Leader for the ward, Mrs. Funkẹ Daramola, thanked Makinde and his wife for remembering women in the community.

In the words of the APC Organising Secretary of the ward, Princess Folashade Apata, “this is not the first time that government is reaching out to women in this ward and I am sure that this will go a long way in relieving them, considering the economic hardship that is going on currently. I also know that the women are ready to support the present administration.”

APC Chairman of Ward 5, Lisa, Mr Oluwadamilare Olowookere, thanked the sponsors of the initiative and asked them to keep it up, adding that their support for women in the ward would not go unnoticed.

APC Chairman of Ward 7, Mr Ayodeji Olusanya, while assuring the Aiyedatiwa administration of his support, appealed to the women to be patient with the present government, saying that the present economic challenge would soon be over because of government policies in the pipeline.

Addressing beneficiaries in Ward 8, Oke Aro, wife of the Chairman of Akure South local government, Mrs. Fasua, described the programme as a sign that the sponsor had not forgotten women in the community.

She, therefore, admonished them to continue supporting the present administration and turn out en masse to vote at the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election.

Similarly, in Ward 4, Ijomu, the Vice-Chairman of Akure South local government area, Adebayo Ayodele, commended Makinde and his wife for remembering women in the ward and assured that women in the ward would continue to support the sponsor of the programme and the Governor Aiyedatiwa administration.

Earlier on Monday, the HAMDROMI team had covered five political wards across Aponmu, Isinkan, Leo and Oja Oshodi in Akure South local government, as a continuation of a previous edition in Akure North.

Addressing The Hope, APC Women Leader of Ward 1, Aponmu, Chief Mrs. Titilayo Adesewa, said that the intervention programme was timely, describing it as a big relief to women in the face of the current economic realities.

She said, “With the situation of things currently, some people cannot even afford to buy a congo of rice. But what has been done for us today is a big relief to such women and others.”

She assured that the women would continue to support the present APC government in the State.

APC Chairman, Ward 3, Isinkan, Mr Adeniyi Bamiwo, thanked Makinde and his wife for remembering women in the community and prayed that God would take them to greater heights.

Likewise, women leader of the ward, Mrs. Christianah Oluwafemi, in an interview with The Hope, urged the women to reciprocate this kind gesture by supporting the government of the day and by turning out to vote at the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election.

Various beneficiaries who spoke with The Hope also thanked the sponsors of the programme for their intervention and prayed that God would replenish them.