Sallah: “If you’ve begged before to eat, you ‘ll appreciate what it means to suffer” – Idimogu

…doles out food items to over 1000 Lagosians…

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The dashed hopes of over 1,000 Lagosians of celebrating Sallah were on Monday rekindled as Honourable Jude Omobowale Idimogu, Member, Lagos State House of Assembly representing Oshodi/Isolo II, constituency doled out food items for Lagosians without restricting it to his constituents.

The lawmaker who shared the items in his house in the area stated that the less pivileged in the society ought to get something no matter how small hence the need to give out especially at festive periods.

Hon. Idimogu on the extreme right, supervising the distribution

Alluding to his upbringing, Idimogu said he grew up as an orphan under the care of relatives after losing his parents at eight.

According to him, that is enough for him, “When I see less privileged people. I feel for them because whatever am today, I feel privileged. its a privileged position. I feel, concerned, its only God that knows my heart.

“You know, its so difficult for one to stoop so low to beg for what to eat, sacrifice his or her pride.

“If you have begged before to eat, you will come to appreciate that it’s not easy.

“However, my desire to give is something that did not start now, long ago and most prominent in the Church, my community here.

The spirit of giving has spanned many years before this time. it’s through giving at my church they called me Abundance, it gladdens me to give.

Hon & Lady Idimogu

“Even in sharing, therein love, giving also is love. At a point I see it as a gift. If I can remember, when I was about 6years, there are people I looked up to at that level.

“When I was small, I had nothing to give, but the desire to give was burning in me. There in the village, one day I went to the bush picked palm kernels, broke them, wrapped them in paper and gave to a woman in my area, she appreciated it and I was also happy.

“Giving cements relationship, no matter how small. Giving I would say is a gift God has given me.

“Apart from that, I have a supportive wife, who is a dependable shoulder to lean on. She is very supportive. These days, she gives more than I do.

“Initially when we started, she used to frown at the rate at which i give, terming it ‘excessive”. But today, she gives more. she has beaten my records.

Idimogu said this is a way of returning back to the society no matter how small.

“What I have done now is our contribution, giving back to the society not just party faithful or leaders, but to the society, considering we are in period of merriments.

“You know also the economy is much telling on the people, things are very difficult. Obviously, we know we have more advantage than them. So we say what can we do to give that is just the motive.

“The number of beneficiaries here today like always are numerous. We are not giving only to our constituents or party members but to the general public.

This has been on since 10:00am, and now is 3:00pm and another group have surged, we will not chase them away, we will take care of them. They will be coming till the end of the day and till tomorrow, this is Sallah.

“For us, it gives us joy. It gives us happiness that God has placed us where we can give to others.

Even when we don’t have, it still delights us to give.

Also speaking, Lady Roseline Enitan Idimogu, said it was promise fulfilled even as she added that they hold unto the philosophy of putting smile on the faces of the downtrodden no matter how small.

Lady Idimogu who is wife of Hon Idimogu further stated: “I thank God Almighty for his grace upon me and my husband, it’s not easy to lead women, it takes great patience. One thing with women, when you promise them and fulfil it, they will stand by you anywhere, anytime.

“I thank God for the women who have believed in me, who have given me benefit of the doubt.

“Like my husband has said, for one to come to you for help, its not easy. Some come for School fees, house rent, and even aid for their businesses. I always try my best because we like seeing people happy.

“We strive to hold to the philosophy that if you come to us with tears, you will go home with joy; joy in your heart that will make you thank God for bringing you to us.

“We want to leave legacy for others to emulate. Knowing so well we can’t be in position of prominence forever, its for a while. Our work today will stand for or against us.

Some of the beneficiaries among who are widows expressed appreciation for the kind gesture saying if other politicians follow suit, the country would be better for it.

Rose Agugu an indigene of Edo State who was among the beneficiaries said, “We thank him for this, God bless him, if others could do this, we will not cry. For me to have this quantity of rice, its not easy, God will bless him.With this our PVC, we are all waiting for the right time to reciprocate.

Some of the women brandishing their PVCs to show how prepared they are to support Hon. Idimogu

“We are happy, this is quite huge, as far as am concerned. Nobody has ever dashed me anything like this before. As a widow, this made sense, God will bless him

Another beneficiary, Aisha Suleimon described the honorable as, “He is the best, I wish him long life, if others will do as much as he has done.

“He has always been here with us; he has refused to relocate since he became house member. Unlike his colleagues who would pack out from the people after they have been elected. He has been here with us in rainy season and dry season.

“Wherever he goes we shall go, no amount of propaganda will separate us from him. It’s like a covenant we have entered with him,” she said.

Valentine Faith from Akwa Ibom, a male while thanking the honorable for the largesse, wished him success in life.

Faith

His words, “With all amount of sincerity, I want to thank our distinguished Hon. For his good work and humanitarian services. He is a very kind man the way he relates with the people notwithstanding the crowd he has ensured there is no crisis. He has implemented it in such a way everybody is happy. Many people have gone.

“This is not the first time, in the years past, we used to get this up to four times a year. We wish him more successes in his political carrier.

“I wish him many more years and many more returns, I say happy Sallah to all.

“He has been trying, but we implore him to invest more into empowerment. More attention is needed in that area.

“Let him expand his empowerment programmes and empower more people, with such as sewing machines, hair clippers, recharge card printing machine, etc,” he said.

On empowerment, Hon. Idimogu said he has done so much in that aspect but has been slowed down by paucity of fund.

“Though fund has been our undoing, we have given scholarships, commercial buses (Kolokpe), huge financial supports and etc. We are unrelenting, and will continue to ask God for His provision to do more,” he said.