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Tag: Gbenga Ashafa

  • Ashafa educates constituents on virus

    Ashafa educates constituents on virus

    The senator representing Lagos East, ‘Gbenga Ashafa, has urged the people to step up their personal and environmental hygiene to curb the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    The senator spoke in Lagos during his regular weekly empowerment programme for the residents of his constituency.

    Ashafa said: “It is unfortunate that the dreaded disease has found its way to our beloved country at this trying time.

    “However, I will implore Nigerians to always avoid contacts with high risk animals, like fruit-bats, monkeys and antelopes. It is also best, in the meantime, to avoid the consumption of bush meat and refrain from contact with infected persons.

    “We should cultivate the habit of washing our hands with soap always and, above all, we should not hesitate to report persons whom we suspect to have the Ebola virus to the nearest health centre immediately.”

    Ashafa donated bottles of hand sanitisers to those who attended the empowerment programme.

    The senator urged them to maintain a high personal hygiene at all times.

     

  • Lawmaker rehabilitates boreholes

    Lawmaker rehabilitates boreholes

    To ensure availability of potable water in Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has rehabilitated and equipped four community boreholes with motorised equipment and power generators.

    Residents trooped out en masse to witness the commissioning of the facilities. Two of the motorised boreholes are located in Odo-Egiri, one in Poka and another in Odomola community.

    The lawmaker moved to upgrade the facilities, following complaints by resident that the hand-pumped boreholes, which were constructed under the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) scheme.

    Community and religious leaders could not hide their joy as they took delivery of the boreholes. An Odo Egiri resident, Mrs Ayo Adesanya, said the senator’s gesture would alleviate their long period of suffering for potable water in the community.

     

  • Ashafa urges Christians to emulate Jesus

    Ashafa urges Christians to emulate Jesus

    The senator representing Lagos East, Gbenga Ashafa, has urged Christians to emulate the exemplary life of sacrifice, love and selflessness that Jesus Christ embodies.

    He advised them to embrace other people, including those who despise them, with brotherly affection.

    The senator noted that this has remained a central focus of Christian teaching.

    In his Easter message to Christians at the weekend, Ashafa said: “The lessons of Easter, when Christians all over the world reflect on the excruciating experiences of Jesus Christ and his eventual triumph over death, should never be lost on us, in our period of challenges, sufferings and deprivation.

    “I enjoin all Christians to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ as a good and an exemplary leader without whom there will not be anything called Easter today.

    “In this sober period, everyone of us, regardless of our religion, should be our brother’s keeper. This is the only way peace can reign instead of the incessant security challenges the country is battling at the moment.”

  • Senator empowers artisans

    Senator empowers artisans

    Sixteen artisans, whose businesses had collapsed, have had reasons to smile again as the lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Gbenga Ashafa, gave them a lifeline.

    The beneficiaries, who were not members of any political party, received free tools and goods to revive their businesses. They were independently selected in Kosofe Local Government Area, Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and the Lekki LCDA, to benefit from the non-political empowerment scheme.

    Ashafa’s constituency office on CMD road in Ikosi-Ketu was aglow with revelry when the recipients came for the items, which included welding and vulcanising equipment, power-generating sets, sewing machines, hair-dryers, barbing tools, phone business kits and soft drinks worth thousands of naira.

    Presenting the items to beneficiaries, Senator Ashafa said he considered the scheme imperative to strengthen and deepen Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the district.

    He said: “This scheme is about touching lives of people who are willing to start small. It is a random empowerment that does not have any political undertone. We went out to search for people, who are in need of help to boost their businesses. None of them were nominated by any politician or group.

    “It is for the beneficiaries to be self-reliant and use what we have given them to generate employment for other jobless people. We are not just rendering the help to them and leave; we will monitor their progress every six months and see what they have achieved with what we have given them.”

    The lawmaker enjoined the beneficiaries to use the equipment to provide for their daily needs, urging them not to sell the tools for quick cash. “We are not happy with unemployment rate in the country, but people must also not depend on government to provide everything for them. I congratulate the beneficiaries and I want to advise them not sell the equipment for quick cash or food,” he added.

    Quadri Olalekan, an artisan in the Kosofe area, who got vulcanising equipment, praised the lawmaker for helping his collapsing business.

    Hassan Olumide, who got welding equipment, said: “I have just changed my opinion about politics because of this gift from Senator Ashafa. I am not a politician and he does not know my parents from anywhere, yet he is supporting me to grow my business. I will forever be grateful to him.”

  • Ashafa excited by success

    The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, Lands and Urban Development, ‘Gbenga Ashafa, has hailed the success of the registration of the All Progressives Party (APC).

    The senator spoke at Bogije, Ibeju-Lekki, where he registered with the party at Ward F.

    He urged those who had not registered to do so.

    Ashafa said: “I urge progressive-minded people to register. The APC is on a rescue mission and this exercise is part of the building process towards 2015.”

    The senator hailed the party for extending the registration by two days.

    “According to reports, many have reached out to the party to give them the opportunity to join the APC train of change. Hence, the party decided to extend the registration for two more days. This will surely give room for more people to be registered,” Ashafa said.

    The exercise ends today.

  • Lagos APC warms up for membership registration

    Lagos APC warms up for membership registration

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) has unfolded plans for the membership registration at the wards.

    Its Deputy Chairman Alhaji Abiodun Sunmola, said the first phase of the registration at the ward level will last for five days, adding that subsequent registration of members will take place at the party’s state secretariat.

    He said: “ The registration of the authentic members will take place at the ward meetings. After the five days, the registration venue will shift to the party headquarter. I urge you to mobilise our members for the exercise”.

    Sunmola spoke at the recent meeting of the Lagos East APC stakeholders’ meeting held at the Somolu Local Government Secretariat. Hailing the party leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for his political shuttles across the six geo-political zones, in a bid to enlarge the APC’s coast, he urged the members not to let him down at the grassroots.

    Sunmola, who is the Lagos East leader, said: “As Asiwaju is working at the top, let us forge unity at the grassroots”.

    Three items were on the agenda at the meeting-the personality rift among the party elders, agitation for governorship by the East District and membership registration. Shortly before the meeting commenced, a member of the Publicity Committee, Mr. Tunde Temionu, said: We are not doing rally. We are not introducing anybody as candidates. We are here for the stakeholders’ meeting”. However, it was a carnival-like meeting.

    The mood at the gathering reflected the crisis among the party leaders. Prominent chieftains, including Otunba Busura Alebiosu, former Deputy Governor Abiodun Ogunleye, former Secretary to Government Olorunfunmi Basorun and former Speakers of House of Assembly, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora and Joko Pelumi, were absent.

    The Lagos APC Vice Chairman, Alhaji Akanni Seriki-Bamu, also urged the gathering to ponder on the suspicion in the Publicity Committee between Temionu and Hon. Tunde Braimoh. Urging Sunmola to unite he fold, he advised him to shun bad advisers, who wanted to mislead the leadership.

    Party members protested their neglect by the some big wigs in elective and appointive positions. For example, they hailed Senator Gbenga Ashafa, former Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Commissioner Prince Rotimi Agunsoye, his successor, Hon. Ademorin Kuye, Bariga Council Chairman Hakeem Sulaimon-Oris, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, and Education Commissioner Mrs. Funmilayo Oladunjoye, when they stormed the venue. But they jeered at other chieftains, claiming that they had neglected what they described as “personal infrastructure”. Ashafa said that “there is still time to correct the mistake”.

    Party chieftains at the meeting included House of Assembly Speaker Yemi Ikuforiji, Primate Charles Odugbesi, former Housing Commissioner Dele Onabokun, his Special Duties counterpart, Dr. Tola Kasali, House of Assembly member Hon. Segun Olulade, former legislator Hon. Goriola Agbara, former Rural Development Commissioner Hon. Lanre Balogun, House of Assembly Commission Chairman Chief Wale Mogaji, Bayo Balogun, Mrs. Folake Sokunbi, Hon. Muyiwa Adedeji, Hon. Bayo Osinowo, Hon. Suntai Agunbiade, Denga Anifowose, Chief Oyedele, Pa S.B. Banire, Hon. Tobun, Bode Alausa, Rotimi Abiru, Biodun Aigbe, Prince Busayo Adebayo, Alabi Macfoy, Hon. Folami, Alhaja Okulaja, and Hakeem Oso.

    Ashafa, who was the first to speak, urged members to cultivate the symbol of the party, the broom, which signifies unity. ‘Don’t allow cracks on the wall. 2015 will not be easy. We need to cooperate together. Our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is working. We should support him. Let us wake up every morning and pray for Asiwaju. He is leading us aright. Those of us in Abuja will also not let you down.

     

  • Ashafa urges selfless service

    The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, ‘Gbenga Ashafa, has urged Nigerians to be more committed to the development and growth of the nation in the New Year.

    The senator representing Lagos East noted that if all could rededicate themselves to the growth of the nation, Nigeria would soon become one of the best countries in the world.

    He said: “As we enter the New Year, selfless service should be our watchword. We must jettison laziness, selfishness and indolence in our daily activities. The New Year has a lot of new opportunities for those who are sensitive enough to tap them.”

     

    “Although the country is still battling with lots of challenges, in terms of economy instability, however, I believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

  • Fashola’s father buried

    Fashola’s father buried

    Lagos was agog on Tuesday as late Alhaji Demola Ibrahim Fashola, father of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola was buried at the Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi.

    Late Alhaji Fashola died on Monday.

    His final journey home began at his 31, Ladipo Labinjo Street, Surulere, residence where eminent personalities gathered for the lying in state.

    His corpse arrived the residence from the mortuary in a black Mercedes Benz jeep at about 11:55am, while the lying in state was held in his honour at the Surulere Senior Secondary School opposite his residence.

    Among the early callers at the residence were Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Chief Rasak Okoya, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, Subomi Balogun, Surulere Council boss, Tajudeen Ajide, Kayode Opeifa, Joe Igbokwe, Onigbongbo LCDA boss, Babatunde Oke, Representatives of Arewa and Ndigbo, Service Chiefs and members of the State Executive Council, among others

    Members of Eko Club, who were present at the lying in state to pay their last respect, described him as a jolly good fellow and prayed for smooth repose of his soul.

    The entourage then moved to the Central Mosque in Obalende where prayers were offered.

    A Mercedez Benz M350 4matic car belonging to MIC Funerals with the inscription “Alhaji Demola Fashola” conveyed the corpse to the mosque.

    Governor Fashola was accompanied by his siblings and close family relatives as they alighted from their vehicles and escorted the corpse on foot from a distance to the mosque.

    The interment at the Vaults and Garden was performed in a newly built marble-carved tomb, a stone throw away from where the late Abibat Mogaji, mother of former governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was buried.