By Remi Koleoso
Emure-Ekiti (Ekiti state) – A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti, Mr Makinde Araoye, on Tuesday gave N5 million to 500 indigent elderly persons in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that each of the beneficiaries received N10,000.
Araoye also distributed 100 bags of rice, 50 bags of wheat and 25 bags of Semovita to indigent persons.
Speaking at the event which took place at Emure-Ekiti, Araoye said he had started the initiative– Makinde Araoye Social Security Scheme– in his Ilawe-Ekiti country home in 2011.
“I started the empowerment from my home town, Ilawe-Ekiti, but decided to extend the gesture to the six local government areas which form the Ekiti South Senatorial District as a way of ameliorating the sufferings of the underprivileged senior citizens in his area,’’ he said.
NAN reports that six local governments, Ekiti South West, Ekiti East, Ikere, Ise-Orun, Emure and Gbonyin, form the Ekiti South Senatorial District.
Araoye said that he emulated the gesture from Gov. Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of the state, adding that the initiative would be quarterly.
Speaking at the event, the Elemure of Emure-Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo, thanked the donor for using his personal resources to assist indigent persons.
The first class traditional ruler charged other privileged citizens of the state to emulate Araoye, saying “it’s not only when politicians are looking for votes that they should remember the needs of the people.”
The monarch also urged young Nigerians to show interest in governance, stressing that it was time for them take over the affairs of the country.
The acting Chairman of APC in the state, Chief Kemi Olaleye, commended the efforts of Araoye in helping to alleviate poverty in the state. (NAN)
