Kunle Adelabu
The former Secretary to the Ikorodu Local Government and Publisher of the Factor newsmagazine, Comrade Japheth Akeem Odesanya, has called on the Lagos State government to rename the Ibeshe road after the late Asiwaju of Ikorodu and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief B. O.Benson, SAN, KJW.
He stated that the late community leader and nationalist deserved to be immortalized while also revealing that a social club has perfected plans to build a cenotaph in his honour in his estate.
Late Asiwaju of Ikorodu played a prominent role in making the Lagos State Government, under the administration of the former Governor now Minister of Works, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, in awarding reconstruction of the road to the construction giant, Arab Contractors.
Late Benson, aside from engaging the government and granting press briefing on the road, also mobilized residents along Ibeshe road and those in Ibeshe community to carried out series of protests to agitate for the repair of the road, an action which eventually drew the attention of the state government as the former governor visited the road.
“I will canvass that this Ibeshe road should be named after him. You (referring to our reporter) remember the struggle for the construction of the road. I mean Chief B.O. Benson’s roles”, Japheth canvassed.
“I know that a club is trying to build a cenotaph here (in late Chief Benson’s estate) and I know that a lot of people would want to immortalize him. He did well and he deserved to be immortalised”, he added.
Japheth also described late Benson as a legendary personality who did not fear death while alive.
“Chief Babatunde Benson was simply legendary. He was a man that was never afraid to die. He was ready to die and talk about death like it’s inevitable which gave him a lot of confidence and he spoke confidently”, Japheth said while speaking about the lifetime of late Benson.
“He was a very frank person; community leader per excellence and a nationalist".
While stating that Ikorodu would miss the late legal giant and community man, Japheth added that his replacement would be difficult to find.
“Ikorodu would miss him greatly. We don’t know now, not now and we won’t know now, but he has taken the influence along. We would miss Asiwaju and who would replace I don’t know yet. He was a complete nice man”.
