A 40-year-old farmer and student of Madrasatul Da’Watul Haqq, Leme, Abeokuta, Dosumu Kazeem, has donated a link bridge worth N12.8m to Itesiwaju Community in Idi-Aba, Oke-Odo, Olokuta area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The farmer had stopped his personal housing project and postponed his first lesser hajj (Umrah) to Saudi Arabia to complete the bridge, which he said was done to ameliorate the suffering of school children and other members within the community.
Kazeem, who spoke with HorizonTimes after the completion of the project said, it took him three years, saying he borrowed from his parents before the project could be delivered.
The middle-aged man, who described himself as someone not wealthy, further revealed that he has no car of his own nor any means of transportation.
HorizonTimes observed that the project is a link bridge from the community to the Olokuta end of the Idi-Aba, Laderin extension, Ewang Extension, Obasanjo Hilltop and Abule-Ake, all within Abeokuta South Local Government.
Kazeem revealed that the bridge is the only link road for students of Victorroti Private Secondary School, Baptist Girls College, Abeokuta Grammar School and others.
According to him, many of the students used to pass through large volume of water before crossing to the other side of the community, saying “we don’t have to wait until the situation causes a major havoc before someone comes to the rescue.”
He stated that the community was a remote one, so it did not get the attention of government.
“It is not that I am wealthy, but I want people to benefit especially when the community doesn’t have the wherewithal to construct the project. We do not have to wait until major calamity is recorded.
“I thought about it and I concluded I could do it and not wait until there’s a havoc. I do not have a car of my own or Okada. N12.8m can do a lot of things for me personally, including a befitting car; but I wanted people to benefit from me through the project.
“If you have an opportunity to do something and you refuse to do it and people eventually suffer from your neglect, conscience will continue to prick you. What’s the essence of a beautiful car when there’s no access road.
“I have not completed my house in the community which I started in 2017, in fact, I was about buying tiles for the house. The last slab I did cost over N3m, even when I was discouraged, I insisted on going ahead with the slab and not the tiles.
“When I mentioned the project to my parents, my father who is above 90 years also lend me some money, my mother also encouraged me by lending me some money so that the project would not be abandoned. They are also farmers in Asu village along the Abeokuta Sagamu Road.”
- Construction Stage
Kazeem said he didn’t wait for the community because there are several of such projects within the community which it cannot finance.
“There are several of such projects neglected within the community, at least, I can show you three of such roads which the community has no financial muscle to fix. When we were given a transformer, it took over three years before it was energized with just about N1million.”
When asked if the gesture was for political reasons, the donor said, “I am not into politics, if it was for political reasons, I will just dig boreholes in Olokuta, Abule Ake, Ewang Extension and grade some roads.
“A House of Representatives candidate in the just concluded election only graded a road in the community and I remember how many letters of appreciation were written to him.
“I also know the project is unbelievable, a lot of people have said that to me. They wondered why I did that as a farmer and not as a politician. But I can tell you I do not have any other source of income except farming, But I am contended once the people are benefitting.”
Speaking during a visit to the project, his arabic and islamic studies teacher and the Chief Imam of Da’Watul Haqq Mosque Leme, Imam Ishaq Muhammadul Awwal, said that the gesture of the farmer was a demonstration of the beauties and teachings of Islam.
According to Imam Ishaq, Kazeem still attends classes despite his age.
Imam Ishaq, while speaking with the members of the community, revealed that he was carried along at every stage of the project, adding that he also encouraged the donor to suspend a proposed lesser hajj trip to Saudi Arabia during the just concluded Ramadhan period, for the project to be deliverd to time.
According to him, the donor is worthy of emulation by both the poor and the wealthy, especially government officials who hold positions in trust for the people.
“This is to show the beauty of Islam, only one person started this project and completed it without waiting for the government and the community. This is someone that does not even have a car of his own, but he demonstrated a good intention as thought by Islam.
“Shame on to the wealthy who benefits not the members of his immediate community. We can all recall many government officials who have shortchanged the people with the trust placed in their cares.
“This brother is a record breaker and a good example to the people. What we are used to is community efforts, not individual efforts of this magnitude. Government should encourage people like him.
“If someone could spend this huge amount of money without any political undertone, such a person would be sincere should any trust be placed in his care.
“This is the type of people that should qualify for political offices not ballot box snatchers.”