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 frank 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 recently paid a courtesy visit to his expansive office at Wakajaye, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
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, responding to the Hands of Love Family’s request, hinted that proper documentation and record-keeping through village or community leaders and local government administrators are needed to achieve the Federal Government’s aim of ending the high level of poverty bedevilling the nation. 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, called for government collaboration and thanked Prof. Olagoke for honouring the group and accepting the Patron of the Family position.
“Sir, we have heard lots about you, and today, we have the privilege of meeting you. You have proved to be a man of integrity and honour. We pray that God will give you a long life and good health so that you can serve humanity and enjoy the fruits of your labour.”
Mrs. Gloria, however, expressed her relief for Prof. Olagoke, who has agreed to become a patron of the family and 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 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, Prof. Olagoke and Mrs. Ukagwu urged the government to inject vocational training into the school curriculum to engage and equip students to be meaningful, viable future leaders. Prof. Olagoke also called for government intervention in creating 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 a family patron on November 18, 2023, the birthday of Mrs. Ukagwu, born on November 16th, and Prof. Olagoke, 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.
