Ex-lawmaker, HKT bemoans state of projects he attracted to constituency

BY ORJI ONYEKWERE

The former House of Representatives member for Ajeromi /Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo, on Thursday, embarked on a media tour of some of the infrastructural projects he initiated and facilitated for his Constituency, some of which have been either abandoned or vandalised. The lawmaker said, all the projects were facilitated and constructed under two and half years of his representation at the Green chambers of the National Assembly out of the four years, due to litigation.

The former deputy speaker – Lagos State House of Assembly, took members of the media round some of the projects he facilitated, some of which have been vandalised, some still under construction, some dilapidated because of abandonment by his successor at the House of Representatives, who is supposed to take charge of the infrastructure since government is a continum.

A deeply embittered Hon Taiwo said, the essence of the media tour was to refute claims by some people that some of the projects he facilitated were not in existence.

HKT as he is widely known by his supporters, was visibly pained at the state of the Primary Health Center he facilitated and equipped at JMJ quarters, Tolu, Ajegunle . The health center since it was handed over to the relevant authorities have not been put into use thereby denying the people their right to quality health care.

He said: “Since my exit from the National Assembly, I have been hearing stories that some of my projects have not been put to use  or completed, some abandoned. Mine is to facilitate the project and there’s is to put it into use and some of them have been vandalized.

“The one that pained me is the healthcare centre, I facilitated at JMJ quarters, a slum in Ajegunle. It’s in Ajegunle. I got a land and a house and I was able to get my people at the federal level and we facilitated PHC for them with full compliments of hospital facilities.  Even the day we were to commission it, I facilitated free drugs worth N10m. “To my surprise, the people of the area  keep coming after the handover to tell me the place is not in yet in operation. “They said I didn’t hand over, but I invited members of Board of the Lagos State Primary Health Center”.

The lawmaker also dismissed the notion that the issue of the health centre that is yet to start operation maybe politically motivated. He noted that he has reached out to the new council Chairman of Ajeromi/Ifelodun under whose jurisdiction the PHC falls and he assured him that the council will provide security and send medical personnel that will man the place.

A visit to the health center showed that all the medical equipment purchased for the facility are gradually wasting away.

One of the residents of the area Egbonwo Adeyemi, chairman of Ward E and chairman of all Ward chairmen in Ajeromi said, they were very happy when PHC was sited in their community.

“Hon Taiwo handed it over to the local government, but I will not say precisely why they abandoned it. We have to come together as a community to take care of it”.

Hon Oloye Felix, a two time Councilor in his contribution said: “I grew up in this street John Ladipo. We are not happy. I was here when the project was handed over and the resources to be used, everything has been done to the fullest. Nobody understands why this place has remained moribund.

“The population here is not just the Ilajes alone. In politics we cannot explain some things and we don’t want to apportion blames to anybody. The fact remains that government is a continuum, when one goes, another one comes in and continues with the project.”