Senator Aishatu Dahiru: Why I empowered 1,667 constituents

Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani) has explained why she distributed economic empowerment kits to 1,667 constituents in Adamawa Central Senatorial District.

She told our reporter in Abuja on Wednesday that the gesture was to make beneficiaries self-reliant and assist them to finance the education of their wards as well as position them to offset their medical bills

The senator explained that the beneficiaries are expected to create employment opportunities for others by adequately utilizing the materials.

On why she has been investing in the empowerment of constituents, Senator Binani said: “I decided to invest in the empowerment of 1,667 of my Constituents in Adamawa Central Senatorial District because that is the only way to lift people out of poverty.

Read also: Operation Lafiya Dole: Troops crush Boko Haram fighters, capture scores including two female fighters in sustained attacks in the Northeast

“The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2018 released figures that indicate in Adamawa State, every 7 out of 10 people live below the poverty line; that is not acceptable to my party the APC – hence the decision to create over 100 million jobs in the next three years.

“But government employment cannot provide that, so people have to be encouraged to be self-employed. It is for this reason that I decided to empower the people of Adamawa Central Senatorial District – which incidentally has about 50% of the state population.”

On the importance of empowerment for her people, Binani said: “There is the common saying that “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. Without empowering people, they will be idle and easily go into all sorts of crimes and criminal activities – like banditry, yan Shila, minor robbery, and thuggery.

“However, when people have jobs to do they will be busy all day in addition to living a reasonable life without depending on anybody for their needs. And security will be guaranteed.

“In addition to that, it will grow the economy and have a multiplier effect on society whereby many more people will indirectly continue to benefit.

“This will make my constituents feel that they have gotten dividends of democracy, which is what politics is all about.”

She added that her dream is to empower the entire people of Adamawa state to make them contribute to the economic development of the state and to curb crime.

The senator said: “My constituents should expect more of such support through various initiatives I am planning for not only Adamawa Central but the whole of Adamawa State i.e. the 21 local government areas.

“Because once this is put in place the economy of Adamawa State will grow, there will be increased employment, reduced crime rate, peaceful coexistence and development will thrive in the state Insha Allah is my dream for Adamawa State.”