By Our Correspondent
Former Ogun State Governor, and the Senatorial candidate for Ogun East in the forthcoming general elections, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has joined other Nigerians in the clamour for the autonomy of local government in the country.
Otunba Daniel, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial candidate for Ogun East in the 2023 National Assembly election, therefore, pledged to push for the autonomy of local governments in Nigeria to enhance their capacity to deliver quality and effective governance at the grassroots.
Daniel said without the local governments being able to enjoy financial autonomy and take steps to improve the life of the people at the grassroots, the socio-economic fortunes of rural Nigerians would continue to remain poor.
The Senatorial hopeful pledged while on his campaign tour to Atan, the headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State where he also used the occasion to empower hundreds of villagers with sewing machines, grinding machines, cars, and tractors among other items.
The former governor recalled that he was able to establish a healthcare facility in Atan when he was a governor between 2003 and 2011, pledging to convey the deplorable state of roads in the area to the appropriate quarters.
He expressed confidence that something positive would be done soon to address the condition of the roads.
While seeking their support for his senatorial ambition, Daniel said the job of a Lawmaker is to facilitate Federal Government projects to their senatorial districts and use the law-making process to bring about quality governance.
His words, "in the last week, we have been in this local government, we have toured all the nooks and crannies of this local government, we know what is happening here, we understand the condition of the roads, which is a big challenge and I want to assure you that we will let the powers that be know, and I am sure that something will be done very very soon.
"The works of a Senator are different from that of a governor. We want to go to Abuja and make laws, but senators and governors and presidents must work together. So I want to plead that this election, it's not about OGD alone, but all APC candidates.
"Part of the problem we have in many states today is the issue of local government autonomy, and part of what we want to go and fight is that local government resources should be given to the local government.
"Without the local government being properly empowered and funded, nothing can happen, and that is what I think is very important that we are going to do.
Meanwhile, the highlight of the event saw a 66-year-old woman Madam Deborah Alake Onajinrin going home with one of the star prices.
Madam Onajinrin's victory, which came through an open lucky dip contest, was announced ahead of another prize winner, Shola Adebajo of Ward 8, Ilese in Ijebu North East Local Government Area of the state among other prizes.
Also, scholarships were given to ten indigenous students with each of the students going home with a cheque of One hundred thousand nairas.
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