’Adebayo ADELEKE
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Nurudeen Oladunni Sarumi, has put smiles on the faces of residents of Araromi Moro and the surrounding villages, near Iresaapa, in Surulere local government area of Oyo state.
The Abuja-based politician, who isn’t holding any political office at present, said he embarked on the project as a community development programme, and according to the documents shown ogbomosoinsightonline.com, the project cost close to three million naira (N3m).
Surulere local government then under the administration of Hon Israel Akinwunmi Ogundiran about twelve years ago donated a 500kva/33/0.415kv transformer to the community to connect it to the national grid but the connection was not effected condemning the community to remain in darkness until Sarumi intervened to change the narrative.
Sarumi fondly called Ola’Abata, who has been demonstrating uncommon love for the people of the area, told ogbomosoinsightonline.com that he took on the responsibility in his bid to facilitate development in the community while expressing appreciation to the Surulere local government for donating the transformer earlier.
“Electricity is vital, very important in a community, it facilitates development. Let me first thank the government for donating the transformer to the community, 12 years ago. We became dissatisfied with the transformer lying fallow without serving its purpose and so we asked questions on the matter.
“Hence, our decision to carry out the installation project and thus bring electricity to the community. We thank God for the grace, for the opportunity to be the one to accomplish it.”
Ola’Abata who is not strange to such selfless community services having distributed over 15, 000 exercise books to pupils of primary schools last November had expended close to three million naira (N3m) on the project after obtaining relevant approvals right to Abuja.
He added that he was ever driven by commitment to community development disclosing that he had other communal projects he is currently executing including road rehabilitation to facilitate easy transportation of farm produce by farmers.
“We are doing it voluntarily; spending little from what God has given us. Whoever has the desire of progress in his community will not think twice before committing personal resources to the development of his community.
“We have other projects ongoing such as road grading, which we are doing to facilitate movement of farm produce.”
He stressed that he was actually inspired by the achievements of Engineer Seyi Makinde, Oyo state governor, averring, “We are doing all we are doing to complement the governor’s impressive gesture.”
The commissioning ceremony held recently was attended by many dignitaries including traditional rulers and political gladiators in the council area such as Professor John Akintola Olumami II, Alapa of Okin-Apa; Hon Banji Folaranmi, a former member of House of Representatives; Alhaji Raimi Oladimeji, a PDP stalwart among others.
Speakers at the occasion all commended Hon Sarumi describing him as an uncommon breed, who though is not holding any political office is spending personal money to make life better for the downtrodden.
Residents of Moro who spoke with ogbomosoinsightonline.com also expressed gratitude to him while wishing him success in his endeavours.
Reverend Kayode Aremu, minister-in-charge of First Baptist Church, Araromi Moro, Iresaapa, noted, “We are very, very happy. For many years we have yearned for electricity in Moro and in the surrounding villages but God has used Hon Nurudeen Sarumi to accomplish the project.
“We pray for him that he will make success of his political adventure. We now have electricity in our village, we thank him, he has won our hearts.”
In similar vein, Mrs. Felicia Ogunsola expressed happiness saying “Nurudeen Sarumi has initiated light in our lives and consigned darkness to oblivion. God will continue to bless and uplift him, having had this now, we believe greater things will stream to the community.”
Saibat Ojo on her own, submitted, “At last we can discontinue using jango (mud wick lamp) and other traditional sources of light, Sarumi has put us in the way of civilization, we thank him.
“We made immense efforts in the past to have governments and individuals assist us to install the transformer but to no avail. God will make Sarumi’s path smooth, he will be successful in his ways.”
Asked if he is involving himself in eleemosynary activities to have his way in politics, Sarumi reacted: “I will not controvert the fact that politics is a trigger but the important thing to me is that I do the little I can do to make life more comfortable and convenient for our people, the less-privileged as well.
“It is a thing I will continue to do by God’s grace whether I hold office or not, assisting people no matter how small elicits joy in the doer, seeing people happy makes me happy and fulfilled. I thank God for the privilege.”