Aged men, women in Ekiti deny knowledge of Fayemi’s welfare package

Senior citizens in an Ekiti State community, who are mostly above 60 years of age, have denied knowledge of the old people monthly package of N5,000, also known as “Owo Arugbo”, allegedly being paid them by the state government.
The elderly people revealed this at Iwaji Ekiti, a settlement under Efon Alaaye Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Saturday during a rally by the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.
They were reacting to a promise made by Bamidele that he would not stop the package but extend it across political borders.
But the aged, who came out in numbers to receive Bamidele, later expressed dismay at his mention of such a scheme supposedly in practice in the last three and half years.
It would be recalled that the government of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, since 2010 claimed to have allocated several millions of naira for the scheme.
Several of them said they were hearing about the scheme for the first time.
Yet this is coming despite the nearness of the community to a local government council headquarter in Efon Alaaye.
The governorship candidate requested the people to demand explanations as to why they were isolated from the so-called “Owo Arugbo” scheme.
Bamidele, who also promised to create more jobs, condemned the failure of Fayemi’s government to employ Ekiti youths since assumption of office.
He also urged the youths to ask for refund of their application fee of N1,000 after three unsuccessful aptitude tests.
The monarch of the community, HRH Peter Adewale Ojo, lamented the lack of basic amenities in their midst, urging Bamidele to come to their aid if he is elected.
The monarch however commended Odunayo Ategbero, a former local government chairman of Efon Alaaye LGA and former Commissioner under the Chief Segun Oni government for keeping in touch with the community despite its several challenges.
Ategbero currently leads Bamidele’s campaign team in Efon Alaaye and its environs such as Itawure, Itaido and Alajo Ekiti.