…constituents celebrates lawmakers democratic delivery

Resident of Surulere constituency 1 have described Hon. Desmond Olushola Elliott who represents them at the Lagos State House Assembly as a committed, cooperative, reliable, dedicated and ready to serve lawmaker.

This commendation resonated in the testimonies of Surulere residents at the 10th constituency stakeholders’ meeting held in the Methodist Hall Surulere, theme: Governance in Action The Gains of Renewed Hope Agenda, as simultaneously done across all the 40 constituencies of the state.

The Vice Chairman of Surulere Prince Adewale Oladimeji Muiz says Hon Elliott is a good listener who is all out for the people’s good when notified.

“His positive impacts are visible from roads to transformers, healthcare for the people, he has been very cooperative, reliable,dedicated and ready to serve, he will readily attend to your need, Surulere is blessed for having good representatives.

“If you approach him he listens and take proactive steps just like every other representatives here in Surulere are poised to do their best for the constituents.

“Desmond Elliott is a man from the grassroots and I know he is taking after the Rt, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila Chief of Staff to the President, who had critically influence the development of Surulere.

“He has given us the mandate not to leave anyone behind but ensure to reach out to all and that is what Elliott is doing.

“That informs why this hall is jampacked just to here him give his stewardship account. Many are still outside listening, if you had not done well it won’t be easy for you to tell people to come and see what you are doing.”

Topical among peoples demand in Surulere bothers on high tariff charged by the power vendors, “the light bills are outrageous, we need government to do something about this. We commend Hon Desmond Elliott for his public spirited effort in this regards, but more need be done to ensure a reduction in the charges, imagine giving us light bill running into almost 100,000 naira monthly, this is too much.” Residents echoed.

Some of the residents who were appreciative of Elliott’s selflessness, took turns to cite how he had over time taken time out of his busy schedule to attend to issues that bothers them since 2016.

At the well attended parley,the various achievements and developments facilitated through Elliott’s ingenious mien to the role of representing his constituents, were largely recounted by the people, from healthcare to roads, empowerment for the widows and youths, and other public spirited efforts especially one that bothers on ensuring steady power supply in Surulere and many more.

Earlier in his speech, Elliott reeled out the great attainments of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria marshalled through his Renewed Hope Agenda mantra.

Elliott said that, “In the 9th stakeholders engagement last year it was all about food security, as you can see the government is making a lot of in roads as regards agricultural development in state. You have the agricultural hubs and all that.

“This time around we are talking in critical terms what this government have been able to do, the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s is making sure that the existing loopholes are being fixed, recently the President alluded to the fact that Nigeria no longer owing any local debts.”

According to Desmond this development has driven Foreign Direct Investment, even in the area of infrastructure.

“We are now addressing people showing the achievements of our government and our own stewardship in term of infrastructural facilitations by us even in the medical sector, people are also stating their needs what affects them as a community and individually.

“Power situation had been an issue to them and that is what we are going to address.

“We need to realize that we are in this together. We will suffer together and enjoy together. The very important thing I want to note is that we cannot leave every work to the federal government.

“We all have our responsibilities as legislators, as executives, that developments starts from the grassroots. What is my own quota, what is my contribution to development of my community?

“That is where development starts from we can no expect Mr President to come and fix a little place like small London for us, it is my job and that of the council chairman and the House of Representative member to speak on behalf of the people.

“Federal Government ensured direct allocations to the local governments you don’t need to pass through state government any more to get that for development, it is now your responsibility to ask your leaders what are you doing?

“ As much powers are being devolved by the federal what are we doing? The devolution of the power sector is instructive, having been blocked for many years now the government is saying let states own power, you now have a competitive energy market.

“Free scholarships now abounds for Nigerians, interest free educational loans.

We now have Coastal roads, which will makes me able to drive from here to Akwa Ibom state in five hours and come back to Lagos. Along that road I can branch elsewhere along the corridor, developmental strides happening everywhere in Nigeria today.

“ I am very proud to be a part of this government because I know that there is hope. There are visible improvements.

“Let’s support this government as they begin to give us that strides. Yes there is still abject poverty and suffering of the people we feel it too, but we need to keep encouraging our peopleof the hope in sight.”

“ I insist on the possession of voters cards because it is your civic duty, it shows that you went out and that you were in the sun queing to perform your civic duty.

“Voting for your candidate of choice. If you don’t have your PVC it shows that you were sitting down watching TV when other people were in the sun.

“You are losing an opportunity availed to every Nigerian if you don’t get you voters card, government does not need to force you, you need to say come we are not asking you to come and vote for the party but to exercise your civic responsibility, of course I want you to vote for my party but let me earn your votes not forcing you get your PVC and forcing you to come and vote for my party no.

“When you belief naturally that you are seeing improvements in governance. We have seen improvement in our electricity, yes we know that charges are high which is what I expect our government to bring down and that will come with time.

“But you must exercise your civic responsibility. I want to encourage every Nigerians, especially Lagosians, party members that you need go and exercise your civic responsibility by registering for your Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and vote your people of choice, we are sure that given our score cards showing them that we mean well across the divides will change the narrative.

Party stalwarts in Surulere, captains of industry, religious leaders, artisans, and other reputable individuals were physical present at the stakeholders parley.