Dimeji Jagun & Wale Olukotun
The Ikorodu Division Traditional Council represented by His Royal Majesty, Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, CON, GCOI, Ikorodu Local Government Area and entire five Local Council Development Areas in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State on Friday 16th May, 2014 joined millions of people worldwide to declare the over 200 Chibok girls kidnap as unacceptable occurrences.
Oba Oyefusi who was in the company of other traditional rulers and chiefs across Ikorodu Division, spoke while welcoming the thousands of protesters who had protested round Ikorodu sympathizing with parents and relatives of the kidnaped girls and demanding that they should be brought back safely. “The kidnapping of the Chibok girls is totally unacceptable to Ikorodu Division and I urge the Federal government to do everything possible to bring the girls back unhurt. It is the responsibility of the federal government to provide security of lives and properties for its citizenry. These girls have been taken for over a month and we are concerned about their health”, Oba Ayangburen said.
Oba Ayangburen who also promised the protesters that he would personally have audience with the President Jonathan to convey the stance of Ikorodu on the kidnapped girls, also enjoined the protesters and entire Ikorodu people to keep praying for the safe return of the girls.
A very emotional Olori Muyibat Oyefusi in her own address declared, “Our children should be not used as objects of negotiation for prisoners, this is barbaric, inhumane and unacceptable to Nigerian Mothers. We mothers are the most affected and we have been unable to sleep since our poor girls were abducted by these people. We are the most traumatized and we want answer quickly about our girls. Federal government should use whatever it takes to bring our poor girls back.”
In his own, Alhaji Sheriff Anipole, Chairman, Ikorodu local government in a chat with our reporter said, “We are joining the mothers of the kidnapped girls and people world over to demand for our girls safe return. As a father, I am pleading with their abductors to release them unhurt.”
High Chief Tajudeen Onasanya, the Odofin of Igbogbo who also spoke with our reporter said, “Federal government must do everything in its power to bring back our girls safely and put the activities of Boko Haram under effective check”. He also called for prayers for the safety and good health for the kidnaped girls.
The protest which was led by Alhaji Sheriff Anipole, started as early as 7.00am from the Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat through Oriwu, Ita Elewa, Obun-Ale and Ajina Markets, Oba Adenaike/Itunmaja Road through Alhaji Street to connect Ikorodu Garrage Round-About. It later proceded through Ayangburen Road and had final stoppage at Ayanburen Palace.
Also in the protest are Hon. Ganiat Jimbo-Ademehin, Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Leaders of the six local councils, honourable members and other political office holders. There were also representatives of Igbo and Hausa communities.
IKORODU YOUTHS PROTESTS CHIBOK GIRLS ABDUCTION, WANTS THEIR RELEASE
The Ikorodu Ambassadors on Saturday April 26th, 2014, led other youths in Ikorodu to demonstrate against insurgency and added voice to ‘Bring Back Our girls’ campaign.
Participants started gathering as early as 6.30am displaying placards with several inscriptions, like “Bring Back Our Girls Alive”, “Ikorodu Youths Against Boko Haram”, “We want FG to Bring OurFuture Back Safely” and “These Girls Are Our Future, We Need Them Back”.
In a chat with the Administrator, Ikorodu Ambassadors and the leader of the protest, Comrade Fatuga Rasheed Adedeji, said Ikorodu youths are joining the world over in demanding for the unconditional release of kidnapped girls and are against insurgency in whatever form.
“It’s all about bringing our girls back protest which is happening all over the world and we are here to stage Ikorodu rally. We are in support of the campaign of bringing them back and the entire Ikorodu division
wants them back soon. We want the FG to mobilize the entire security apparatus in Nigeria with the foreign assistance and bring them back because they are our future. The Boko Haram insurgency must also stop once and for all”
Hon. Aziz Jimoh Olosugbo, the leader of Ikorodu LG Legislative Arm who also partook in the protest also spoke with The Impact, “I am joining the rally as a member of The Ikorodu Ambassadors and because I am a youth and want to be useful to the community. This youths organization deemed it fit to protest against what is going on in the country and to say no to the insurgency, to what is taking us back, to what is destroying the country and we are standing against any form of violence and lawlessness.”
Olosugbo added that 160million Nigerians are bigger than Boko Haram and we must not allow the insurgency to instill fear and destroy us as a country.
“Ikorodu youths are saying no to Boko Haram and pleading that they should release our girls. These are future of Nigeria and pride of all well-meaning people. We have done this protest walk for freedom, for the release of our young girls and for humanity. We are standing our ground that this country must be safe from insurgency”, added Olosugbo.
The protest took off from Ikorodu Garage Round-About and moved through Ayangburen Road, Ayangburen Palace to Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat where leaders of the protest addressed the gathering.
IKORODU CDC, OTHERS PROTEST ABDUCTION OF CHIBOK GIRLS
It was the turn of Community Development Committee (CDC), Ikorodu in conjunction with Ikorodu Market Association, Religious bodies and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Tuesday, 27th May, 2014, to add their voices to the “Bring Back Our Girls” Campaign.
The protesters numbering about 200 marched across major streets in Ikorodu to protest against continued abduction of over 200 Chibok girls in Borno State.
The protest led by Alhaji Luqman Shonibare, CDC, Ikorodu Chairman took-off from Adamson Square and marched to Ayangburen palace where High Chief Kabir Sotobi who represented HRM Oba (Dr) Salaudeen Oyefusi, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu (CON) was on hand to welcome and accept their protest letter to the President of Nigeria.
Alhaji Shonibare while addressing the protesters at Ayangburen palace said, “We are disturbed by what is happening in the country, especially the kidnap of over 200 Chibok girls for over a month. Ikorodu is against the activities of Boko Haram and we deem it fit to join millions of people all over the world in seeking for their safe return to their parents and families”.
In the letter presented to HRM Oba (Dr) Salaudeen Afolabi Oyefusi (CON), who was represented by High Chief Kabir Sotobi, the Odofin of Ikorodu, the Community Development Committee, Ikorodu said, “The CDC and its partners in progress call on all tiers of government and other concerned institutions in Nigeria to expedite action on the efforts to secure the release of these children and their safe returns to their parents and families.”
While accepting the letter, Chief Sotobi assured the crowd that the Oba would deliver it to the appropriate authorities and enjoined every well-meaning Nigerians to assist in bringing back the girls with their prayers.
After the presentation of the letter, the protesters headed for Ikorodu Garage Round-About. They later went through Owolowo street and Oriwu Road to deliver another protest letter to Alhaji Sheriff Anipole, the Executive chairman of Ikorodu local government.
The Secretary to the Ikorodu local government, Hon. Japheth Odesanya, led other political office holders to welcome the protesters and accept the protest letter on behalf of the Chairman.
While accepting the letter, Hon Odesanya said, “We as council are in solidarity with the psyche that has been abused, traumatized, harassed and molested due to the kidnap of the over 200 Chibok girls. The essence of government is to provide adequate security for life and properties of the citizenry, but the reverse is the case in Nigeria.”
Odesanya said that the Nigerian project is no longer working, then advocated for the return of the country to regional system to foster more progressive development and social justice..