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Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Matthew Kolawole has been endorsed by his constituents to contest for another term in 2019.
This was disclosed yesterday in a program held at the hall of the St. Augustine College, Kabba where over 350 students across the constituency, including non indigenes, benefited from the Speaker’s N4.5million Education Support Scheme.
Speaking at the occasion, Kolawole, who represents Kabba-Bunu state constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, commended the people of the constituency for the opportunity given to him to serve, urging them to continue to support the current administration in the state led by Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
According to him, it is a vow between himself and God to consistently support the people especially in the area of education considering his love for education and the challenges he went through before he could get education.
He said he was not that lucky to be born with silver spoon, hence he resorted to menial jobs to raise money for his education while growing up, noting that his parents were not privileged to be rich but he was determined to make it in life.
The Speaker enjoined the youths to take their education serious as they are the leaders of today and no longer of tomorrow, stressing that he did not allow the challenges of growing up to weigh him down in pursuing his education.
He further stressed that he graduated from Primary School in 1978 but could not continue to secondary level due to lack of resources, noting that when his classmates in Primary School left the secondary in 1983, he was only able to complete his own in 1987.
According to him, he loved education even when the means was not available, pointing out that despite his predicaments then, he emerged the overall best student in Oyi Local Government Area in 1978 session.
Kolawole said going through his résumé shows that it took him 20 solid years before he could complete his secondary education, pointing out that he gave this background for people to know why he love education.
The Speaker said it is not because he has surplus money but it is a vow between him and God to continue to give support to the people especially the upcoming generation in the area of education, as that is the only way to help the society at large.
He said as part of his campaign promises during electioneering to reposition the education sector of the constituency, he decided to introduce the scheme to assist parents at this time and other initiatives like the Quiz Competition, Scholarship scheme and empowerment programmes to reposition the constituency.
He advised the youths against hooliganism, drug abuse and other social vices that may be detrimental to their future, noting that he will never use anyone for thuggery because of election.
He said the world is fast moving ahead, pointing out that like before now people at any age can get employment in any organisation but now as soon as you are more than 25 years old, it becomes difficult because there are many children these days who graduate at the age of 19, 20, 21 years old, urging the youths of the constituency to face their studies and take their life serious.
The Speaker also promised to construct a standard health care centre in Gbeleko for the people of the area to access qualitative health care services.
He then released (#200, 000) two hundred thousand cheque to Okeofin community toward the completion of their town hall project and (#300, 000) three hundred thousand to the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Kabba/Bunu Chapter for their office accommodation.
He also announced the appointment of Mr. Christopher Barikin as his Special Assistant on Education and Sports.
Speaking earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Elder A.S Baiyemo commended the speaker for his various empowerment initiatives, stressing that his kind of representation is what the people need, pointing out that it is just barely two weeks ago, he organised town hall meeting where he briefed his constituents about his activities so far at the assembly.
He said he has proved himself to be an outstanding representative who has raised the bar of representation in the Constituency to another level which may be difficult to beat in the nearest future.
The chairman enjoined the people to continue to support the current administration in the state and their son being the number 3 citizen of the state, a position that is coming to the constituency for the first time.
He charged the beneficiaries of the scheme to make judicious use of the fund made available to them, noting that education as a critical sector needs such interventions regularly since government can no longer do it alone.
Other speakers at the occasion includes, His Royal Highness, Oba Michael Yusuf, the Obadofin of Oweland, His Royal Highness, Oba Aledare Danbaba, the Obaro of Olle-Bunu, Hon. Jethro Funsho Oni, AKA Chop and Chop, former member of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Major Ajayi (rtd). They commended the giant efforts of the Speaker in ensuring water supply through provision of boreholes, empowerment scheme and the quality representation he is given the area at the state level.
They promised to continue to support him as he remains the best representative they have ever had in the history of the constituency, noting that he is a God sent.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of N10, 000 with five exercise books each to the 350 beneficiaries.
In another related development, the Speaker has relocated his Constituency office to another spacious and bigger facility where there are enough rooms to attend to all issues relating to the development of Kabba/Bunu.
Unveiling the office complex located along John Cardinal Onaiyekan road in Kabba metropolis, the Speaker said he decided to relocate the office to the present facility because of space to attend to the people and also to provide a conducive working environment for the staff working in the office.
While at the Constituency office, a motion was moved by Hon. Jethro Funsho Oni aka Chop and Chop and seconded by all that were present that Rt. Hon. (Prince) Matthew Kolawole do re-contest for the Kogi State House of Assembly come 2019, noting that the constituency cannot afford to send a fresher to the assembly who will become a floor member.
According to him, there is no need to change a winning horse, noting that he knows what it takes for him to attain the position of speakership being a former member, stressing that he is a man of destiny.
He appealed to the community to support the Speaker who he said has performed excellently well in the last two and half years in the assembly, noting that, there is no point of sending another person.
Responding to the motion, the Speaker thanked and appreciated the people for their love and support since he assumed duty as member representing Kabba/Bunu State Constituency at the assembly.
He enjoined the people to continue to pray for the Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who he considered as his political mentor who has made him succeeded politically in life, stressing that the success of the Governor would go a long way to the overall development of the area.
According to him, he has not taken the decision either to re-contest or not, but still praying to God for direction, urging the people to join him in prayers, praying for the leadership in the state and national level for God to endow them with wisdom, knowledge and understanding to pilot the affairs of both the country and state to an enviable height.
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