Tinubu’s Foundation Donates Food Items, Cash To The Needy In Lagos

PHOTO: THE NATION
PHOTO: THE NATION

A former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has, in the spirit of the festive season, put smiles on the faces of the poor and the needy, by distributing 2,000 bags of rice, vegetable oil, sugar and a little cash gift to people from various parts of Lagos State.

Speaking yesterday when his Foundation, the Bola Tinubu Foundation, BTF, distributed the food items and cash to the less-privileged members of the society, he said he was moved by the level of poverty in the country at a time like this, because “poverty is poverty; it knows no religion and it has no tribal mark; and it affects everyone of us”.

Asiwaju Tinubu, who is a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), enjoined Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers, particularly those who cannot afford to buy food during the festive seasons.

Tinubu noted that the Foundation gives out food stuff to the needy three times a year, when Nigerians are celebrating Sallah, Ramadan and Christmas.

His words: “I wish everybody a Merry Christmas, a joyful and peaceful Nigeria in the New Year. The country is for all of us; there is no religious poverty. Poverty knows no religion; it has no tribal mark; poverty is poverty because it affects every one of us.

“That is why I provide relief for those who ordinarily would be left with nothing during this period. I try to put something in the envelope, to provide succour for them on a day when everybody is rejoicing about the birth of the Saviour. That is the joy I derive from this”.

A mammoth crowd turned out at the Foundation’s office in Lagos Island, mostly women, to receive the gifts.

A Special Assistant to Tinubu, Mr. Femi Oyatolu, said yesterday’s event, which is dubbed the Bola Tinubu Foundation Christmas Outreach 2014, was the fifth in the series of such gestures during Christmas celebrations.

He said the Foundation believes in reaching out to the poor and the needy, no matter how small, to give them something to celebrate with their families at this time of the year.

He added, “Basically, the programme is for the poor and the needy, particularly those who cannot afford to put food on their tables during festivities like Christmas. What His Excellency is trying to do is to give back to the society. At least, he tries to give them something that can put smiles on their faces. The crowd out there goes to show the level of poverty in the country”.