By Saheed Afolabi
The lawmaker representing Epe Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Olawale Raji, has tasked members of the ‘Club Seventies Epe’ (CSE) to take their rightful positions in the leadership and development of the community.
Raji gave the advice during his courtesy visit to the Club in Epe while commending the members of the Club for their immense contributions to the growth and development of Epe Division.
He identified some basic problems confronting the Division and his efforts towards proffering solutions, most especially employment generation, infrastructural development and counseling against social vices.
He described the objectives of the Club as laudable while congratulating members for keeping their house together since the time he hosted the club at his Epe Country home almost 20 years ago till the present moment.
According to him, “the main purpose of coming together as a club is to promote social bonding. Apart from the blood related members of the family, the Club is supposed to be regarded as an extension of the family and as such members must be closely knitted together.”
He further admonished members to avoid unnecessary jealousy for the club and individuals to move forward.
“All of us cannot progress at the same pace and at the same time but those that got up the ladder first should remember to lift up others below the ladder.
“The essence of coming together is for the strong to support the weak ones.”
He implored club members to avoid being self-centered and instead consider the plight of others, uphold the spirit of togetherness and always give back.
Raji said collective interest as against personal interest will make all members prosper together.
He stressed the need for the club members to channel their energies positively.
According to him, members of Club Seventies Epe are nation builders and catalysts for change who should set long and short term goals and focus on achieving set targets which the government can support.
He said good character and integrity were some things needed to excel, urging the Club to set goals, focus on them, and be disciplined.
Raji urged members of the group’s vision to be more resourceful in their communities to attract development, instead of being used to perpetrate social vices.
While giving the synopsis of his political career and several interventions in terms of developmental projects, he listed part of his achievements as construction of blocks of classrooms in primary and secondary schools all over Epe Local Government Area, and payment of monthly stipends to the Senior (Elderly) citizens in Epe.
He also listed construction of ICT Centres in selected secondary schools in Epe Local Government, continuous empowerment programme for the youths and women and also for Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs.
Others, according to him, include construction of market stalls and Lock Up Shops, provision of federal employment for Epe indigenes, construction of primary healthcare centres in strategic locations in Epe Local Government and rural electrification projects as well as provision of Transformers among others.
