By Aderemi Bamgbose
Sen. Nicholas Tofowomo representing Ondo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly says he has fulfilled part of his electioneering promises in spite of an accident that put him out of the senate for six months.
Tofowomo, in a statement making his one year in office through his media Aide, Mr Olumide Akinrinlola, on Thursday in Okitipupa, thanked his constituents for their prayers and cooperation throughout his challenges.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Tofowomo and three other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains, on Sept. 6, 2019, along Igbara Oke in Akure, were involved in a ghastly auto crash while going for a function in Ibadan.
Tofowomo said he was grateful to God that he was still alive to witness one year anniversary and fulfill part of his promises which he tagged “STREP”: Security, Transportation, Resources, Employment/Empowerment and Power (Electricity).
He said that he had created 92 jobs across the six local councils in his constituency with monthly salaries of N50,000, amounting to millions of naira, which he said was the first of such in the area.
NAN reports that the six local government areas in Ondo South are Odigbo, Okitipupa, Irele, Ilaje, Ese-Odo and Ile Oluji-Oke Igbo.
He said that he also scouted for 21 jobs for some youths in various sectors ranging from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), Nigeria Correction Services, Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army and private companies like banks.
“On empowerment, I have been able to facilitate 150 slots of CBN/NIRSAL Loan ranging between 1million – 10million per person for my district which was shared for 25 persons per LGA in the six LGAs.
“On Power (Electricity), immediately I was elected senator, I visited the Omotosho Power Plant twice to ensure Ondo South gets electricity supply directly from Omotosho, instead of Ondo town,” he said.
The senator said that he discussed with necessary parties to ensure the contractor handling the step-down project at Erinje road got reasonable amount to complete the job in good time before the accident.
According to him, he also joined other stakeholders in the struggle to lobby all concerned parties to ensure that Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) repairs damaged electrical cables in affected communities and to also meter them.
He said that Ode-Aye, part of Okitipupa and Igbokoda had been connected back to the national.grid.
“Recently, I facilitated the installation of solar street lights in Ode Irele and Ile-oluji towns, an inherited project for immediate completion,” the senator said.
Tofowomo said that he had also made some impact in the area of infrastructure with the dredging of Owe river via golden line estate/Saint Francis high school and Aigo river via Ayeyemi Junction in Ile-Oluji in the central market.
“I have also advocated federal government intervention for the ecological project in Ondo South, especially in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State where many houses have been destroyed by flood.
“On Ilaje Sea Incursion, I have a pending motion seeking Federal Government intervention, coupled with ongoing advocacy through the presidency to address the sea incursion at Ilaje LGA.
“On COVID-19 pandemic, I did my best by distributing palliatives to less privileged in six LGAs that form my district,” Tofowomo said.
He urged his constituents to continue to cooperate with him for the dividends of democracy to get to all in no distant time. (NAN)