A member representing Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Muktar Shagaya has promised to liaise with the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Senator Saliu Mustapha, to address the infrastructural needs of the constituency.
He spoke at a town hall meetinmg tagged “Journey begins” and held at Afon, the Headquarters of Asa Local Government Area of the state .
Shagaya expressed delight over the turnout of stakeholders and representatives of wards, groups and associations at the forum.
He pledged to synergize with the Governor and Senator Mustapha to realize many of the pressing issues in the area.
“With synergy with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Senator Saliu Mustapha, we will address the issues raised at this town hall meeting.
“We will also liaise with the relevant people from time to time to ensure that the interest of the people take centre stage,” he stated.
The state Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Mustapha Ishowo, said the town hall meeting was first of its kind in the political annals of the constituency.
He stated that the decision to convene the meeting in Asa was a reflection of the interest the lawmaker placed on the development of the local government area.
Ishowo called for the execution of people centric-projects in line with specification and aspirations of the people at the grassroots.
Also speaking, a traditiobal ruler known as the Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin, Dr Usman Abubakar-Jos, raised an alarm over the spate of hunger in the land, blaming the hardship on the removal of fuel subsidy.
He reminded the lawmaker that the constituents who are in need of jobs would besiege him, calling for proper attention to them.
The traditional chief urged Shagaya not to prioritize only politicians or party members in the provision of employment opportunities just as he pleaded with him to expedite action on the rehabilitation of Afon Road, saying that it has become an eyesore.
He recalled that the road was in good condition and motorable a few years ago but regretted that it has deteriorated.
A former state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Salman Jawondo (SAN), appealed to the lawmaker to facilitate the inclusion of boundary road between Kwara and Oyo State in Asa local government in the next year’s budget.
He also called for the provision of solar-powered boreholes in rural communities.
The APC Chairman in Asa local government area , Alhai Shehu Yahaya, noted that majority of people in Asa are farmers but had been turned to commerical motorcyclists, leading to rural-urban drift.
He advocated employment opportunities for youth to engage them productively.
He saimd, “Security challenge in Asa is of great concern. This has caused the people in rural communities to live in fear while those in the urban centres cannot come to rural areas for fear of being attacked”.
The Chairman, Transition Implementation Committee, TIC in Asa local government area, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Saad Atunebise, who applauded the lawmaker for organising the meeting, said it represented the impact of youth inclusiveness in governance.M
He urged the youth to be focused and determined and shun social vices.
Atunebise said, “As we all know that the town hall meeting is to provide a platform for government and governed to share, seek, input and get feedback on views and opinions gathered to enhance adequate good representation of people’s interest and social economic growth.
Confidence Okwuchi
