The Coalition of Ikeja Youths (CIY), a Lagos-based youth organisation has reacted to the recent publication by Sahara Reporters, an online medium accusing Honourable James Abiodun Faleke using a Kaduna College as front for buying SUVs for traditional rulers.
The organisation in a statement signed by its Chairman, Olorunsogo Adeniyi; and Secretary, Blessing Chukwu, described the report as not true, urging the media organisation to do a proper fact-check on the matter. It even invited the media organisation to come to Ikeja on fact-finding trip.
According to the group, Faleke has been upright in all his dealings and follow due process in his constituency projects and empowerment programmes.
The group noted that as a lawmaker, Faleke has not been involved in awarding of contracts for his constituency projects. “His only job is to select projects that will benefit his constituents. Contract award is the duty of the Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA) under which the project is domiciled. And the process of the contract award passes through the procurement process as laid down by the Procurement Act. Our representative is not involved in all these,” CIY explained.
Thus, the group explained further, all constituency projects of Faleke were budgeted for including purchase of vehicles for traditional rulers and community leaders which is also another form of empowerment for them.
“Don’t forget that the traditional rulers and the community leaders the vehicles were purchased for are also constituents of the lawmaker. There was nothing to hide or fishy in the purchase and distribution of the vehicles. They were publicly presented to the beneficiaries,” the group said.
The group was emphatic that Faleke has and continues to be a worthy representative of Ikeja people in the Green Chamber.
“We made bold to state here that Faleke has been and is still representing the good people of Ikeja Federal Constituency very well in the Green Chamber.
“We’re happy that this man has not only succeeded in taking hundreds of jobless youths off the streets, he has also succeeded in making successful entrepreneurs out of them through his various empowerment programmes which have been done through his various constituency projects”, the group said.
“Faleke has distributed over 400 mini-buses to youths and women as part of his constituency projects. He has also distributed hundreds of tricycles, countless number of deep freezers, grinding machine, sewing machines and pop-corn making machines to his constituents.
“Apart from all these, Honourable Faleke has facilitated the construction of over 37 roads in various communities and areas in the constituency and we made bold to say that he has become a reference point in quality, effective, positive, efficient and progressive representation not only in Lagos but in the entire federation of Nigeria.
“We want to invite Sahara Reporters to come to Ikeja Federal Constituency and see the number of caterers, fish farmers and small scale traders that are now fully engaged as a result of Faleke’s various constituency projects. We want the media organisation to send its crew to come and talk to various police divisions in the constituency and see how Faleke has enhanced their operations through vehicle and other security items.
“What about the various school interventions: construction and rehabilitation of school buildings, provision reading and writing materials for teachers and students as well as provision of laptops to students,” the group said.
The group also highlighted Faleke’s road construction and rehabilitation interventions, his light-up Ikeja programme which have seen virtually all the streets in the constituency enjoying street lights as part of the reasons his constituents love him and will always support him.
“It will be hypocritical to blame him if few of these street lights are not working which may be due to mechanical fault or whatever,” CIY noted.
CIY concluded that rather than maligning Faleke, he deserves the commendations of all for his various interventions in Ikeja Federal Constituency which have positively and progressively impacted on his constituents.
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