Date: 2017-04-28

Former acting National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and presently a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje has called on politicians and organisations to assist the government in its efforts to better the lives of the citizens.

Baraje who made the call in Ilorin at a programme organised by Seven Seven Elite Forum of Baboko, said with the current economic downturn, government alone could not provide all the basic needs of the people and called on politicians and other stakeholders in the society to initiate masses - oriented programmes that would benefit their people.

Baraje who was represented by his Personal Assistant, Alhaji Ibrahim Baba Olobi told the gathering that government at all levels had been incapacitated by harsh economic situation to meet their obligations to citizens.

He also commended the youths of the area for setting the pace, saying that their efforts in improving infrastructures in their community should ginger others to think of how to add value to the community.

Also speaking, a retired Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Nuhu Magaji recalled that the Baboko/Eruda/ Taiwo bridge was erected single handedly by the late Waziri of Ilorin, Dr Olusola Saraki some three decades ago.

He described the efforts of the youths in renovating some damaged parts of the bridge as a welcome development worthy of emulation.

While highlighting the importance of the bridge, he said the bridge would reduce traffic hiccups in both Taiwo and Abdulaziz Attah roads.

The President of the Association, Mr Yusuf Muhammad Bashir said the association took the task upon itself after several failed attempts to draw government's attention to the dilapidated state of the bridge and caledl on politicians and well-to-do individuals to support the association in its drive to put the bridge in good shape.