Kunle Adelabu
The Ranodu of Imota, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajibade Bakare Agoro, the Olufoworetie, has recalled how he initiated the move that resulted into the creation of the six councils in Ikorodu Division.
Ranodu, who said that he has been involved in the politics of Ikorodu Division since 1978, and became an Oba when he was actively involved, also narrated how Imota was removed from the proposed councils and how he fought for his town to be included back in the document and its eventual creation 22 years ago.
The highly revered monarch recalled the incidents at the Imota dialogue which took place at the ADMOS Hotel, Imota, withthe theme, “From Dialogue to Action: Shaping The Future of Imota LCDA Together”, organized by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Imota chapter.
“I have been involved in Ikorodu politics since 1978, and became a king while I was still actively involved. Though, I am a king now, but it is difficult to let go of politics because it is in the blood.
“When we talk about the Ikorodu Division, I used to be one of those that gave directions. There is nothing that has happened in Ikorodu Division since 1979, that I am not part of, as a Councilor then until the throne came.
“So, I am the one that went to the late Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi in November 2001, and told him that he was responsible for the lack of creation of other local governments from Ikorodu. I let him understand that we only had four First Class Obas in Ikorodu Division and Badagry that cannot be equated with us, had 15.
“The implication is that when the four of us canvass a position that is germane and with facts at the state level and the 15 from Badagry counter, that is the end of such because they are in the majority.
“After my submission, Ayangbure told me that I was the only one that can talk frankly with him and he asked me what should be done.
“My suggestion then to the Ayangbure was that Ikorodu and its environs should be divided into three and Imota, Ijede and Igbogbo and their environs should also be created as separate local governments.
“It is the proposed six local council arrangement that we are using today and I am the one that God used to proclaim it. After my submission, Ayangbure agreed with me but said that Isiu must not go with Imota, and I told him that I wasn’t interested in Isiu and would even reject it if it was offered.
“The late monarch also mentioned that he didn’t want a town along the Ijede road (Oba Agoro was unable to recall the name) to be part of Ijede, when the council creation is done and my response was that Alajede will not even accept it if he was offered then.
“That was how we agreed to the creation of six councils out of the Ikorodu Division,” Oba Agoro recalled.
The royal father also recalled how Imota was removed from the proposed six councils when the bill for the creation of additional councils had already reached the second reading before his attention was called to it.
“In fairness to him, he (late Oba Oyefusi) developed a document which I still have a copy of, and presented it to his chiefs to prepare a memorandum which led to the local governments that we are using today.
“Unfortunately, when the document was submitted to state, another thing happened which led to my love for Asiwaju Tinubu and why I aways queue behind him. The memorandum that was submitted indicated six councils but it was changed to five.
“I got to know through the former representative of Ikorodu Constituency II, who is contesting for the Alajede Obaship, Hon. Saheed Hassan Adefarasin. He was the one who woke me up around 2am to inform me that Imota Local Government has been removed from the proposed council creation and that he had to inform me because Imota people will think that he was responsible for it.
“He explained what transpired and at that time, the bill had scaled through the second reading. It was after the information that we protested at the Lagos Secretariat.
While commending Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora and President Bola Tinubu, for ensuring that his town was included in the document that eventually led to the creation of additional 37 councils to make it 57 councils in the state, Ranodu added that this is the singular reason that will always make him support Tinubu.
“All thanks to Senator Mamora (the then Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly) who God shall continue to favour. Thanks for his intervention. He ordered for a change in the bill after my explanation. When they brought the bill to him, he showed me that five councils were proposed and queried why the sixth was removed.
“Incidentally, I have necessary documents with me and I showed him the memorandum that we prepared showing that six councils were actually agreed upon in Ikorodu and he queried how it turned into five.
“When he told me that His Excellency (Governor Tinubu) was not available, I charged him to call and that he would answer if he knows I am the one. On that spot, he called him and explained the situation and also informed him that I was with him.
“Tinubu, after hearing a detailed explanation, ordered that the bill be sent back to the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Aro Lambo who died last year, to do the needful. It was around 8pm that the bill was changed back to six councils and it was returned to the House.
“It was the second or third day after that the bill was passed into law and Imota Local Government was created. If Tinubu was that type of governor that procrastinated, the Imota council would not have been created.
“All thanks to President Tinubu and God. I will always back him even if there are no people left with him”, the monarch said.
