Lagos based Entrepreneur and Industrialist Chief Austin Ikubese has lauded the Lagos State government for its inclusive ‘Open Door’ policy, allowing non-indigenes to actively participate in public office campaigns. He urges lawmakers in the state to enact legislation that ensures a non-hostile environment for non-indigenes, emphasizing the importance of learning from the outcomes of the 2023 gubernatorial elections.
Ikubese commended the State government for its approach to inclusive governance, noting that the state has been a pioneer since 1999 in granting political offices to non-indigenes and allowing them to contest political positions across party lines.
“My wife had been a very committed, dedicated and loyal member of our party. I was not too surprised when her name was mentioned from the state for an appointment as S.A Woman Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) in 2021, being the only non-indigene and the only female in the EXCO. It was indeed a thing of joy to the Ikubese’s family and the non-indigenes, mostly the South-South indigenes in the community as both of us are from Ukwani Local Govt in Delta state. ’’
“This is highly commendable to the government of Lagos state whom since 1999 has been the only state in the federation that has given political offices to non-indigenes and allow them to contest political positions in any party of their choice. ’’
Speaking at a Christmas welfare program organized by his wife, Mrs. Sarah Ikubese, Supervisor of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Oriade LCDA, Chief Austin Ikubese highlighted the importance of unity. Over 200 5kg bags of rice, accompanied by financial aid, were distributed to vulnerable individuals selected from various communities, including Churches, Mosques, Navy Town, Satelite Town, Artisans, and Physically challenged persons across all seven wards in the Oriade Local Government Area.
“Let me also appeal or suggest to the Government that in every last quarter of the year all the 57 WAPA’S in Lagos State should be allocated with special funds and properly supervised to make sure they use it to support the vulnerable people in the state. This should also be done without making it a party affair. The thought to support my wife and extend the Christmas welfare palliative this year to Churches, Mosques, Navy Town, and all the seven (7) Wards to vulnerable persons including persons with disability was because in occupying such an office, the general public believes that she probably would have been empowered financially by the Government to empower the vulnerable persons in the community.
“This has always been one mistake most political parties have been doing when they only concentrate in giving palliatives to members of their political parties each time palliatives are being distributed. They are indirectly saying they have gotten enough party members; but when you give palliatives to the general public irrespective of the party they belongs to, it is another way of opening doors for other party members to join our party. Hence our decision not to limit the Christmas welfare to party members alone. ’’
The entrepreneur who also advocated for quarterly or bi-annual meetings between the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and the 57 supervisors under the Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation program (WAPA) from the 57 Local Governments and LCDAs in the state, explained that such collaborative effort serves as a means of evolving programs that directly impact lives and effectively alleviate poverty.
“Let me also appeal or suggest to the Government that in every last quarter of the year all the 57 WAPA’S in Lagos State should be allocated with special funds and properly supervised to make sure they use it to support the vulnerable people in the state. This should also be done without making it a party affair. The thought to support my wife and extend the Christmas welfare palliative this year to Churches, Mosques, Navy Town, and all the seven (7) Wards to vulnerable persons including persons with disability was because in occupying such an office, the general public believes that she probably would have been empowered financially by the Government to empower the vulnerable persons in the community.
“This has always been one mistake most political parties have been doing when they only concentrate in giving palliatives to members of their political parties each time palliatives are being distributed. They are indirectly saying they have gotten enough party members; but when you give palliatives to the general public irrespective of the party they belongs to, it is another way of opening doors for other party members to join our party. Hence our decision not to limit the Christmas welfare to party members alone. ’’
He also urged that in the last quarter of each year, special funds should be allocated to all 57 WAPA supervisors in Lagos State, emphasizing proper supervision to ensure targeted support for vulnerable populations. He encouraged an apolitical approach to welfare distribution, avoiding exclusivity based on political affiliation emphasizing the significance of broadening the scope of welfare initiatives to benefit the general public thereby transcending political boundaries and fostering inclusivity.
Honourable Sarah Ikubese while speaking to the Media described the initiative as one that comes from a calling akeen to her.
” I love giving, if it is possible I want to give to the whole world. It is my calling. I remember years ago about 50 physically challenged persons used to come to my shop on a regular basis. It was a thing of joy for me then . So when I got this appointed, as supervision for women affairs and poverty alleviation Oriade LCDA, I was like wow, this is an opportunity for me to use this platform to give .”
Responding to media inquiries about the welfare initiatives led by the Office of the Chairperson in Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Executive Chairman Hon. Ramotalai Akinlola-Hassan highlighted the ongoing commitment to providing welfare and palliatives for residents and indigenes of Oriade community stressing that the importance of sustaining efforts in the ongoing fight against poverty by all levels of government.
“My local government is very peaceful because we are always very friendly. Nd as for the palliatives, when we marked our two years in office, we did a palliative of about two and fifty thousand naira to two hundred people. And we will continue to do it. We will provide social amenities for our people because the money belongs to them. “
