By Seyifunmi Odunuga
The set man of the Centre for Religious Cooperation and Tolerance (CRCT), who is dubbed the founder, spiritual head, and grand imam of Shafaudeen in Islam worldwide, Alhaji Prof. Sabit Ariyo Olagoke JP, has called for the integration of the Mogajis and Baales (village heads or community leaders) who are closer to the grassroots people if the government is truly sincere about distributing the palliatives to the downtrodden masses without corruption. Identifying those who belong to the unfortunate low economic class in abject poverty is basic to getting to the target of the need for palliatives.
The Arole Ogun-Elu of the Aare Alasa dynasty made this known while receiving members of the Hands of Love family who paid a courtesy visit to his expansive office at Wakajaye, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, recently.
Prof. Olagoke specifically urged the FG government to integrate the Mogajis, Baales, and local government administrators if they truly want to succeed in catering to the needs of the masses.
Olagoke, while responding to the request from the Hands of Love Family, hinted that there is a need for proper documentation and record-keeping through the village or community leaders as well as local government administrators to be able to achieve the Federal Government’s aim of ending the high level of poverty bedevilling the nation presently. The lacunae or lapses in past government efforts should be identified and perfected for better distribution performances.
The renowned cleric urged the incumbent administration of President Bola Hamed Tinubu to look into the procedures taken by the immediate past government of Muhamadu Buhari on the so-called palliatives and perfect them through documentation, record-keeping, and statistical measures of verification for sincerity of purpose to get them directly into the hands of many of those who really need them.
“If any government wants to talk about palliatives, documentation matters, while there is also the need to have sincerity of purpose to ensure the proper distribution of items to the masses”.
Earlier in her address, the Founder of Hands of Love Family, Mrs Gloria Ukagwu while also calling for government collaboration, thanked Prof. Olagoke for honouring the group and his acceptance of becoming a Patron of the Family.
“Sir, we have heard lots about you, and today we have the privilege to meet you. You have proved that you are a man of integrity and honour, we pray that God will give you a long life and good health to serve humanity and also to enjoy the fruits of your labour.”
Mrs. Gloria, however, disclosed her relief for Prof. Olagoke, who has agreed to become a patron of the family as well as deliver a lecture to inspire the youth, people living with disabilities, and single mothers at the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan on Saturday, November 18, 2023.
“Sir, I do tell the people I prefer to celebrate my birthday with the needles instead of throwing a lavish birthday party.”
She, however, thanked the renowned Prof. for the warm hospitality and for accepting the family on behalf of the downtrodden, who may not have had the opportunity to meet Prof. Olagoke.
“I am happy that we were both born in the month of November, the sacred month of heroes and heroines, and together we will achieve in terms of giving back to society,” Prof. Olagoke said.
In their separate interviews after the visit, both Prof. Olagoke and Mrs Ukagwu urged the government to inject vocational training into the school curriculum so as to meaningfully engage and equip them to be viable future leaders. Prof. Olagoke called for government intervention in the creation of recreation centres for senior citizens to play and relax and for the youth to be meaningfully engaged in developing skills to prepare them at home for international competitions.
Prof. Olagoke will be officially decorated as a patron of the family on November 18, 2023, during the birthday of Mrs. Ukagwu, who was born on November 16th, while Prof. Olagoke was born on November 10th.
Prof. Olagoke will, however, be honoured by the National Youth Council, Oyo State Chapter, as a pillar of tolerance alongside other dignitaries on November 16 at the CRCT Wakajaye, and shall deliver a lecture on the theme of the 2023 International Tolerance Day Celebration with the theme, Tolerance: A means to foster peace in a multifaceted society.
