The senator representing Kwara South in the National Assembly, Arc. Lola Ashiru has dismissed reports that his recent empowerment programme for women in Kwara South was deceitful.
In a viral video, an unidentified man claimed that Ashiru’s empowerment programme was deceitful. He explained that the laptops distributed to the beneficiaries were retrieved from them after the programme organisers had taken pictures showing they had received them.
But, the federal lawmaker’s legislative aide, Olaitan Adeyanju, in a statement, countered the claim of the man who was in the viral video.
She also sent our reporter another video by the same man, in which the man tendered an unreserved apology to Ashiru for his earlier video, which he said was misleading.
“Yesterday, I posted a video in which I said the recent empowerment programme by Senator Lola Ashiru was deceitful. I didn’t know that the programme was not a one-day programme.
My friend, who was a beneficiary of the programme, has sent pictures and videos to me showing when the laptops were eventually distributed to the beneficiaries. I’m very sorry, and I apologise to Senator Ashiru and the public for my earlier misleading video. Senator Ashiru is my father, and I want to express my gratitude to him for carrying out the empowerment programme,” the man said in a new video.
The statement signed by Adeyanju reads: “ We would like to address the misleading video making the rounds, which aims to discredit Senator Ashiru’s effort to enhance youth capacity building in ICT.
“To set the record straight, on Wednesday, October 16, the senator’s office organised an empowerment program for Kwara South Women and out-of-school youths, distributing industrial sewing machines, freezers, and grinding machines.
“The following day, Thursday, October 17, laptops were distributed to ICT-skilled youths in Kwara South to boost their productivity.
“On Friday, October 18, the last day of four weeks of ICT training and digital empowerment, laptops were given to all training participants as announced at the beginning of the training.
“Notably, Indigenous Youth organisations like Kwara South Youth Organisation, Igbominna Youth Assembly, Oke-Ero Youth Movement, Ekiti Navigators, Offa Youth Council, Ibolo Youth Development, and individual youth beneficiaries have commended the senator and acknowledged receipt of laptops.
“The ongoing projects and activities of the senator in the district are unparalleled, and he remains committed to his inclusive governance approach, undeterred by detractors.”
