- Urges all political appointees to be selfless
THE Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has launched a scheme, GbajaRide, that will provide free transport to primary and secondary as well as the elderly that are 65 years and above in Surulere Local Government Area.
At the official launch of the scheme on Saturday, 33 mini and medium buses were unveiled to drive the project.
Speaking at the event, Gbajabiamila stated that he is not tired of serving the people of Surulere, stating that serving Surulere has been good stress for him.
He emphasized that the purpose of government is to allow people pursue and achieve their God-given ambition.
Justifying the need for the scheme, Gbajabiamila who donated 13 units of 32-seaters and 20 units of 18-seater King Long branded buses, said: “The purpose of government, and indeed the point of all public service, is to create the conditions that allow individuals and society to pursue their God-given ambitions, achieve success by the strength of their own endeavors, and thrive through the best efforts. Now, this recognition of the role of government underpins the Renewed Hope programme of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. It informs all the policy, political, and administrative decisions this administration has taken since assuming office nearly two years ago.”
Expatiating, the former Speaker said: “The Gbaja Ride programme we are launching today is also a product of that determination to use the instruments of government at all levels to ease the lives of our people and empower our citizens to do more and achieve greater things. Access to safe, efficient, and reliable public transport services is imperative in the local environment at large. Access to these services, especially for young children in school, for older people, for the less able, and for all those who struggle with their income, can be the difference between succeeding in school or failing because of a lack of regular attendance.”
While noting that the free ride scheme is in partnership with the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Agency (LAMATA), Gbajabiamila assured that besides school students, the aged, the buses would be available to all other residents for intra-city shuttles at a steep discount of 25% below the pre-payment rates for all the routes where these buses will be available.
The former lawmaker representing Surulere 1 federal constituency, who reiterated that the free transport scheme was his own modest contribution to ameliorate the sufferings of the downtrodden masses, however urged all political appointees to ensure that they continue to contribute their quota to uplift the constituents.
“I believe by doing this, we have in our own little way contributed to the development of the society. If you look at the world over, any thriving economy, whether it’s America, whether it’s Germany, whether it’s South Africa, whether it’s Uganda, whether it’s Ghana, there is no economy that can thrive without a good transportation system. That is why in many countries, transportation is cheap.”
The President, he reiterated “has cleverly and rightfully removed subsidy from petrol. Very quietly, with his help, we have been able to at least here in Surulere subsidize transportation for our people. I think that is savings. The intervention is that those who need help the most, priority will always be given to our senior citizens.”
This is just as he revealed that he has written off the cost of salaries of 100 employees for the free transport scheme, insurance, fuel and other sundry expenses for three months, reiterated the need for other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate his gesture of charity giving which aims to impact the society at large. .
Speaking earlier, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), who also doubles as the Project Advisor, said the Gbaja Ride is a poverty alleviation scheme as it would enable subscribers save N20, 000 monthly and N240, 000 annually all thanks to the concession.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Olukemi Amure, who represented the Managing Director of LAMATA, Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, lauded the scheme, even as she assured of her agency’s commitment to sustain the gesture.
In his remarks, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Lagos chapter, described Gbajabiamila as not just the face of Surulere but also the party at large.
Ojelabi, who was represented by the Deputy State chairman of APC Moshood Mayeigun, said, “With your name (Gbajabiamila) alone we’re fit to go, we have 24 hour light in Surulere. It is worthy of commendation.”
The highpoints of the occasion was the formal commissioning of the buses by Gbajabiamila, who was joined by other dignitaries including former and serving political appointees, public servants, community leaders, royal fathers from Ikate, Ijora, Agboyi-Ketu, to mention just a few.
