Despite the demolition of Ile Arugbo by the Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq-led administration, the immediate past President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has not ceased to reach out to the aged people, mostly women who used to converged on the place every week to receive support and care.
Saraki’s Press Officer on Local Matters, Abdulquadri Abdulganiyu, who confirmed this in a statement, said the former Senate President last week, doled out food items and cash gifts to the aged persons within Kwara Central, which he said, was to ensure they had a joyous Eid-el-fitri celebration.
He added that Saraki had reached to the aged persons on different occasions since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.
According to him, the distribution was coordinated by Mr Razaq Aladie, who is in charge of matters relating to the Ile Arugbo women.
Abdulganiyu said to make it easier for the beneficiaries to get the items and money, distribution was done at ward level, adding that the entire wards within Kwara Central were grouped into 28 with different points of collection stationed across the 4 local councils that make up the Senatorial district.
He dislcosed that the distribution exercise was done at Ita Elefun, Isale Aluko, Adabata, Abata Oloduku, Oloje, Daada Okelele, Baboko, Adeta, Niger road, Sabo line, and Ita Adu areas of Ilorin. There were also collection points at Oke Oyi, Banni among others.
He stressed that those residing in the remote areas of Kwara Central were not left out in the distribution exercise.
The Press Officer further explained that long before the demolition of Ile Arugbo by the present government in the State, Saraki had initiated an arrangement that ensured that support items and cash gifts get to identified old people who were unable to attend the weekly gathering at the place (Ile Arugbo).
He added that this was done through coordinators who were selected in each of the wards in Kwara Central.
Abdulganiyu said with or without Ile Arugbo, Saraki remains committed to the welfare of the aged people and would continue to look after, stressing that it is a tradition he inherited from his late father, whom he said, was very accommodating and compassionate.
