In a move aimed at taking grassroots empowerment beyond campaign promises, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate for Saki West State Constituency, Hon. Salaudeen Kabeer Adebayo (SKA), has commenced the distribution of POS machines to 200 residents across the 11 wards of Saki West Local Government Area.
The initiative, which began on Thursday at the Saki West Legislative Chamber, is designed to provide practical economic support to residents ahead of the 2027 Oyo State House of Assembly election.
The first phase of the programme produced 50 beneficiaries, with further beneficiaries expected to be supported in subsequent phases. The intervention targets petty traders, youths, women and other residents engaged in small-scale economic activities, providing them with an additional means of generating income while expanding access to digital financial services within their communities.
Explaining the motivation behind the programme, He said the current economic climate had made it increasingly difficult for many residents to raise even modest capital to start or expand businesses. He therefore said he considered it necessary to act immediately rather than wait until after the election. “I’m not waiting to assume office before empowering my people,” he declared, adding that leadership should be measured by the willingness to identify problems and provide practical solutions.
Hon. Kabeer, who doubles as the Majority Leader of the Saki West Local Government Legislative Council, said the POS machines represented more than physical equipment. According to him, they were economic tools that could become the foundation for sustainable livelihoods when properly managed. He urged beneficiaries to see the opportunity as a responsibility and encouraged them to grow their businesses rather than treat the intervention as a one-off benefit.
The candidate also promised that the programme would be sustained and expanded to reach additional residents across the constituency. He expressed confidence that beneficiaries who successfully manage their businesses could eventually move beyond personal income generation to creating employment opportunities for others. His broader vision, he said, is to support economic inclusion while strengthening the capacity of youths, women and small-business operators at the grassroots.
Hon. Adeniyi Olabode Adebisi, APM candidate for the Saki East, Saki West and Atisbo Federal Constituency, commended the initiative and described it as a practical demonstration of grassroots-focused leadership. The former Commissioner noted that Adebayo’s decision to begin empowerment before assuming a higher elective office showed the importance of addressing the immediate economic realities of constituents. He assured that the programme would continue in phases.
The resource person, Mr. Araromi Olumide, explained that beneficiaries would receive appropriate training to enable them to operate the POS machines effectively and maximise the opportunities they provide. The event was attended by prominent party and community stakeholders, including Comrade Olanrewaju Lawrence Olawale, Mrs. Kazeem Saidat, Hon. Waheed Yekeen Olanrewaju and Hon. Jinaad Adenike, alongside ward chairmen, women leaders, secretaries, youth leaders, deputy legislative council leaders and supervisory councillors. The initiative has consequently positioned Salaudeen Kabeer’s campaign around a message of “service before office,” with economic empowerment placed at the centre of his grassroots engagement.
