The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Oyo state on Diaspora matters, Hon Bolanle Sarumi Aliyu has said that she is happy working and learning from her boss, Engineer Seyi Makinde.
She also submitted that the Makinde-led government in the state is committed to delivering good governance to the people of the state as well as ensuring the rehabilitation of repatriated Oyo State indigenes.
Hon. Sarumi stated that the Diaspora office created in April 2020 was established to look into the welfare of the Indigenes of the state living outside the country as well as to facilitate development into the state.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor Nigeria revealed all these while featuring on a weekly radio show, Parrot Xtra Hour on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola and broadcast live on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State’s Oluyole 98.5 FM Ibadan, the state’s capital on Tuesday evening.
She emphatically stated the since the creation of the diaspora office, it has yielded positive results through the kind gesture of the Governor as the office has successfully repatriated over 100 indigenes of the state who were stranded in Lebanon especially.
She said “I must credit it to the Governor, whom God is helping, and he is delivering good governance to the people, we have repatriated over 100 indigenes of the state that were trafficked, and suffering in Lebanon. The Governor paid a lot of money for their repatriation.”
She also revealed that a kind hearted indigene of the state based in New Jersey in the United States of America is facilitating and opening of a new 50-bedroom shelter for abused and trafficked victims.
Hon. Sarumi equally revealed that through the effort of her office, free Yoruba and culture lessons are ongoing at the state diaspora’s page online in which people are taught the language and culture of the state.
Hon. Sarumi used the occasion to shed more light on the condition of an indigene of the state, who was stranded and abused in Lebanon by her Syrian master. “On the issue of the lady called Peace, her boss could not pay her salary and she was advertised for sale to another buyer. I eventually contacted the Ambassador and it was confirmed that the man who carried out the dastardly act was a Syrian citizen but living in Lebanon. The lady is back and she is reunited with her family members through the efforts of the Lebanese community and others.
She, however, stated that her office in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs in the state is partnering to empower the returnees in order to successfully rehabilitate them back into the society.
She also had a word of warning to all intending citizens of the state seeking for greener pastures abroad to see that they travel with reputable travelling agencies who have traceable success stories.
She reiterated that her office is doing a lot of sensitization and awareness campaign in conjunction with the National Agency for The Prohibition Of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) to stop the dastardly act while reassuring that a more solid plan for the exercise will be unveiled in the coming year to educate and enlighten the people on the dangers surrounding human trafficking.
Speaking on the personality of the state Governor, she described him as a fantastic leader who is keen on delivering on his electoral promises to the people of the state. She emphasized that the governor is not putting pressure on any member of his cabinet to perform to expectation, as they are determined to work hard too.
She said “Governor Seyi Makinde is ready to deliver as he promised the people, he is working hard and we have no excuse to slack or lag behind. He wants the people of the state to judge him based on his performance.
She described her working relationship with the governor as a privilege, saying she will not disappoint and that she will reciprocate the good gesture by working very hard to ensure that the Makinde led-government is successful.
She reaffirmed her commitment to supporting the Governor for as long as he is determined to govern the state. She said Makinde is working to delivering a fantastic template for the state, so that Oyo State can be better than Lagos state in terms of infrastructural development.
She, however, charged all young women to be hardworking and resilient and not to rely on menfolk alone for their sustenance. She charged them to live within their means and reduce their flamboyant lifestyles saying that it cannot add value to them.
Packaged by Dare Raji, Timilehin Olalere and Olawale Awe
