Kunle Adelabu
-Gets Commissioner’s, Special Adviser’s, Others’ commendations
It was a massive reception for the Representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Rep. Babajimi Benson, when he toured three projects that he facilitated in different parts of his constituency, as residents trooped out to welcome and thank him.
Rep. Benson, on Saturday, toured the completed Ita – Elewa Youth Center where he facilitated sporting facilities which has a football pitch, basketball court and stand with offices and space for indoor games. Also toured were the ongoing reconstruction of Pashokun Street that connects Aga/Gbasemo to Oriwu Road in Ikorodu.
The three term lawmaker also visited the Akin Ogunlewe Avenue in Igbogbo, that connects the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way which is under reconstruction with the Igbogbo/Bayeku road which is also being constructed. The Akin Ogunlewe Avenue has been completed awaiting formal commissioning.
Two cabinet members of the Lagos State Government – Mobolaji Abubakri Ogunlende, Commissioner for Youth and social Development, and Dr Nurudeen Yekinni Agbaje, Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, who were in the lawmaker’s inspection team, commended him for his quality representation.
Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Hon. (Chief) Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Builder Sesan Daini, Chirman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and Hon. Taiwo Orenuga, Chairman, APC, Igbogbo/Bayeku LGA among others, also joined Rep. Benson, during the tour.
Rep. Benson expressed his happiness at the massive welcome and love accorded him by the residents at the locations that he toured. He also assured residents that the two cabinet members that joined him would see to more developmental projects in Ikorodu.
“I was very happy seeing smiles on the faces of the people. They all came out to welcome us. The community did very well for us during the election and we need to pat them back by giving them the dividends of democracy”, he said.
“I am with the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development. We will work together and compliment ourselves. As we are all aware that under the rural development, internal roads and other infrastructures will be looked at. I know that the Special Adviser will look at this.
“The Commissioner for Youth, Bolaji Ogunlende is the one to look out for. He has always exceeded all expectations. I know that he would hold particular interest in our Ikorodu Division. Myself and Hon. Agbaje will always be on his neck for him to give more to our youths in Ikorodu”, he assured.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Abubakri Ogunlende, commended Rep. Benson for the rehabilitation of the facilities at the Ita – Elewa Youth Centre.
He said that the centre, with the facilities provided by the lawmaker, will assist in developing the youths in Ikorodu positively.
“We are here at the Ita Elewa Youth Centre which is under the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, to inspect the sporting facilities facilitated by Hon. Babajimi Benson, which were handed over to us sometime last year, but later had a little bit of snag”, he said.
“Hon. Benson, in his wisdom and has he has continued to do, has decided to do another round of renovation on the facilities. We are here to inspect the level of the work that has been done so far and see the progress of the work.
“I decided to be here today, to encourage and thank him on behalf of the Ministry, State Government, youths of Ikorodu, and youths generally in Lagos State. This is part of the initiatives that we hope that we can all collaborate to achieve.
“The ultimate beneficiaries of this sort of facilities are the youths, and we all know that what we are trying to do is about the youths, youth empowerment and creating an environment for them to thrive. This is a recreational centre to keep the youths in here as against being on the streets.
“That is why we are here to inspect with Hon. Babajimi Benson and his team and the Ministry of Youth and Social Development”, he added.
Dr Nurudeen Yekinni Agbaje, Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, while stating that he is not surprised at the projects being toured by the three term lawmaker, also charged residents of the areas affected by the road construction, that the projects are located to take ownership of them.
“I am not surprise because this is not the first time that Jimi Benson has been doing something about the development of roads and social infrastructures in Ikorodu and its environs. So, I am not surprised”, Dr Agbaje said.
“The Pashoku road is a rural road and will bring development to the area. He has started and I know that he has started it, and he will complete it soon.
“My advice is that the road should be well maintained after completion. This facility is for the society, and so also is the sports facilities at Ita Elewa. These facilities will remain good when they are properly managed but if not, they become problems.
“The Ita Elewa Youth Centre was handed over in good condition sometimes ago, only for him to come back to reconstruct it. I just want to appeal to everybody to see these as our properties and must make sure that we protect them”.
“We should thank Hon. Jimi Benson for facilitating these to Ikorodu”, he said.
Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, speaking when Rep. Benson visited the Ogunlewe Road, thanked him for fulfilling his promise.
The former Minister of Works added that the lawmaker has been doing what the state and the local government are supposed to do by facilitating developmental and impacting projects for the constituents.
Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Builder Sesan Daini, speaking also commended Rep. Benson for the road and all the developmental projects he has facilitated in the council .
The Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Igbogbo/Bayeku LGA, Hon . Taiwo Orenuga, also speaking in Igbogbo, thanked the lawmaker for sustaining his quality representation for the people.
Mr Hameed Olalekan Aroyewun (HOA), former aspirant for the Ikorodu Constituency II, Lagos State House of Assembly, commending the lawmaker, said that he has been providing access through the construction of inner roads.
Aroyewun, who represented Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, also expressed the political chieftain’s appreciation to the lawmaker.
“I must commend our James bond, my dear egbon and leader, over his rehabilitation of the Ogunlewe road, which is an access road. This will bring relief to us going to connect the Igbogbo /Bayeku, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu road and some others.
“It is instructive to note that the first road project that he embarked on in Ikorodu Division, is in Igbogbo, which shows that Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA is topmost in his agenda. So, I say a very big thank you to him and we appreciate him.
“To also appreciate him, our leader, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, has commended and showered him appreciation over the road and all that he has been doing, through a message on our platform this morning.
Aroyewun further appealed to Rep. Benson to continue to facilitate more developmental projects throughout his constituency, especially in Igbogbo.
“Like Oliver Twist, we will continue to ask for more. Selewu residents have been on his neck, and I am sure that they are the next. It’s my prayer to the Almighty to continue to give him the strength and contacts that he will be using in bringing more infrastructural facelift to our division. He is indeed God-sent. God bless you, Boss”, he said.
