With prayers and excitement on the faces of beneficiaries across the length and breadth of the state, the Multimillion Naira ‘Ramadan Cash Palliative for 1000 Kwarans’, initiated by Professor Ali Ahmad, a former Kwara State House of Assembly Speaker and Professor of Constitutional Law, on Tuesday, in the spirit of the Muslim fasting, created joyful memories in the hearts of the indigents.
The breathtaking event was held at the Ahman Pategi GRA residence of the former lawmaker, where scores of faithful from across different political parties, including some high-powered Kwara PDP Stakeholders, Women and Youth Groups, Artisans, Leaders of thought, and Gentlemen of the Press, were present and listed among top beneficiaries of the 1000 slots of Ramadan Cash Palliative.
Attendees of the historic event included the Kwara PDP State Publicity Secretary, Mr Adewara Olusegun Sholyment; Kwara Central Senatorial Chairman, Alhaji Rasaq Owolabi; the host Ilorin South PDP LGA Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Oloyin, who received all the Fifteen party local government chairmen; Public Affairs Analyst and Elders of thought, Alhaji Shola Muse; Alhaja Saratu Adebayo’s women group, and a host of others.
Ali, while distributing the funds to some beneficiaries of the Ramadan Cash Palliative, which ranged between N50,000 and N200,000 respectively, noted that his efforts are geared towards assisting the Muslims and party faithful in overcoming the various difficulties they face as the fasting continues and individual commitment grows.
“This period is no doubt a tough moment for us all; we have never had it so bad with the alarming hyperinflation rates. As a private citizen, I have committed this multimillion naira cash palliative to support our people as the fasting period continues in this time of distraught,” Ali was quoted as saying.
The cash palliative also includes some categories of one hundred and ninety-two beneficiaries who were supported with N5000 each from across the Sixteen Local Government Areas of Kwara State. Additionally, ten individuals from across the Four Local Government Areas of Kwara Central District were selected for another set of N5000 cash palliative.
Delivering his opening remarks during the historic event, Professor Ali Ahmad expressed concerns about the damning impact of hyperinflation and the bad state of the economy on the Nigerian people, which he said resulted in the rising poverty in the country.
He added that the Multimillion Naira Cash palliative serves as a complementary effort to the distribution of food items and convergence of Muslims at the residence of former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON, since the commencement of Ramadan for the breaking of their fasting.
In his remarks, Public Affairs Analyst and Elders of Thought, Alhaji Shola Muse, commended the complementary efforts of the former lawmaker via his programs, where members of the public were considered as beneficiaries of the Ramadan Cash palliative.
Other political leaders, including the Kwara Central PDP Senatorial Chairman, Alhaji Rasaq Owolabi, Women Leaders, and some of the PDP LGAs chairmen present, took turns to appreciate the former lawmaker. They equally shared in their separate remarks their past experiences of Professor Ali Ahmad’s philanthropic gestures towards the advancement of party faithful.
While lamenting the rates at which leaders enjoy the dividend of democracy more than the led, Alhaji Shola Muse said it’s high time political leaders commence real-time human capacity development and put an end to serial money politics during electioneering, which he said has further impoverished the people.
The Professor of Constitutional Law, however, recalled the several interventions of Senator Saraki during his stints as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and President of the 8th Senate, describing the former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, as a true ‘Nigeria leader and not only for Kwara’.
He, meanwhile, described as laughable the comparison of the former Senate president with some state actors who are trying to follow in his footsteps in their career progression in national politics.
Meanwhile, the former lawmaker has directed the immediate payment of Kwara NUJ Online Chapel’s registration and inauguration fees for members who are unable to meet their obligations.
The NUJ Online Chapel in Kwara is believed to be a novel and the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria to be created from the constitution of the Fourth Realm of the Estate.
