Kunle Adelabu
-APC Chairmanship candidate pledges further support
The Community Development Committee (CDC), Imota Local Council Development Area (LCDA), has set record as the first to organize a Community Day Celebration in Lagos East Senatorial District.
Alhaji Lukman Sonibare, General Secretary, Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC), Lagos State, confirmed the historic feat, while commending the Imota CDC for the initiative.
He gave the commendations at the maiden Imota Community Day held at the Imota Stadium which is under construction. At the celebration were the Ranodu of Imota, HRM (Oba) Dr. Ajibade Bakare Agoro, Special Adviser on Rural Development, Dr Nurudeen Agbaje (represented), Hon. Sunday Benson, Vice Chairman, Imota LCDA and Chairmanship candidate, Mrs Abisoye Jimoh, Vice Chairmanship candidate, Mrs Kehinde Fesomu, CDC Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Prince Adeniran Ogunbanwo, CDC Chairman, Ikorodu North, Mr Yahya Ogunsowo, CDC Secretary, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA among others.
The celebration, themed, ‘Consolidating CDA’s Contribution To Community Development’, was held on June 12, 2025.
At the ceremony where Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Imota, engaged in parades, awards of honour were also bestowed on prominent individuals for their support for the CDC/CDAs and efforts in developing Imota LCDA.
Among the awardees were Hon Wasiu Kunle Agoro, Executive Chairman, Imota LCDA, Engr Oyenuga Tokunbo, Mrs Oluwatoyin Adeniji, Director Community Development, Ministry of Local Government Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, and Mrs Akintunde Olayinka Kuburat, HOD Agric and Social Services Imota LCDA
Others were Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ogunniyi Babatunde, DPO, Imota Police Divisional Headquarters, Imota, Lagos State, and CS Adejo Adekunle, Commanding Officer, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Imota Command.
Comrade Odumosu Rafiu Ashaka, CDC Chairman, Imota LCDA, while thanking stakeholders in the development of Imota LCDA, also charged them to rededicate themselves to further service to the development of their community.
“Today, we gather to celebrate our community leaders and to appreciate the selfless services of everyone involved in our humanitarian activities and community development efforts. We recognize the love, sacrifice, and financial commitment that each and every one of you has made to our CDA.
“As we celebrate our Community Day which coincides with Democracy Day, a significant day in Nigeria’s history, I urge you all to recommit yourself to our shared vision of building a better Imota LCDA. Let us continue to work together to create a community that is secure, prosperous, and just for all”.
He charged that stakeholders in Imota CDC/CDA on collaboration, accountability and the need to prioritise the needs of their communities.
“In consolidating our efforts as CDC, we must focus on strengthening our community development initiatives. We must foster greater collaboration, transparency, and accountability within our CDA. We must also prioritize the needs of our community, ensuring that our projects and programs align with their aspirations. And to our CDA representatives here today, I challenge you to know your neighbors, to have adequate knowledge of what they do, and to look out for one another. Let us secure our families, properties, and community. We deserve a better environment, and it starts with us”.
Ashaka also charged the APC Chairmanship candidate who represented the Chairman, Imota LCDA, Hon. Wasiu Agoro, and her running mate, on the need to give more attention to CDC/CDA.
“As we look forward to the future, we want to appeal to the incoming government to give more attention to the CDC and CDA. We need your support to level up with other CDCs in the state, and to deliver more visible projects in our community. We believe in the philosophy of “We are one,” and we share the same community interests. Let us work together to protect and promote our community”, he said.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Luqman Shonibare, General Secretary, CDAC, while congratulating the Imota CDC and CDAs on the laudable initiative, said that the Community Day initiative is first of its kind in Lagos East.
“Today is a day of joy and a day of happiness. Happiness in the sense that this programme is first of its kind in the history of Ikorodu Division. I congratulate the CDC Chairman and other executives in Imota and also all the CDAs in Imota.
“This is a laudable one and I am sure that other CDAs will emulate it and probably replicate it in their local government and LCDAs. What this means is that, Imota is the first to organise a Community Day Celebration in lkorodu division, and is indeed the first in the entire Lagos East.
“We want to thank the Chairman of Imota CDC”, he said.
He charged the executives and members of Imota CDC and CDAs to go out en mass and vote for the Chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Sunday Benson.
The Executive Chairman, Imota LCDA, Hon. Wasiu Agoro, represented by his Vice Chairman, Hon. Sunday Benson, speaking at the celebration, said that the Community Day Celebration has come to stay.
“The Imota CDC Community Day has come to stay. It will be observed once every year by God’s grace. I thank all the executives of the CDC led by Comrade Odumosu Ashaka, for this initiative. The celebration has brought the community together to celebrate and hear traditional songs from the traditional ruler of our community.
“I want to implore our CDAs that they should be prepared to showcase their cultural heritage during next year’s celebration.
“We have been given recognition as the first LCDA to celebrate Community Day in the East Senatorial District, and we are going to maintain that. Today, I give you my words of assurance that this has come to stay”, Hon. Benson assured.
Responding to various requests by members of the CDC/CDAs, he said that the council will provide office space for the CDC within the council complex, while stating that he will discuss about the request for the community hall to be name after Late Salisu Obarinu Yekini, with the Ranodu of Imota and other notable leaders, when he emerged as the Executive Chairman of the council.
He also assured residents of regular grading of roads across communities in Imota, while also thanking Rep. Babajimi Benson, representative of Ikorodu Federal CoNstituency, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, Senator representing Lagos East and Hon. Aro Mosood Abiodun, representative of Ikorodu Constituency II, for their contributions to infrastructural developments in Imota LCDA.
While stressing that he cannot promise that he would immediately procure caterpillar for grading of roads, he added that they would be done within three years of his administration if elected into office.
In his response to a call for increase in monthly support for the CDC, the APC candidate said, “I will not go lower if I cannot increase whatever that my incumbent Chairman, Hon. Wasiu Agoro, is paying”.
On the creation of new markets, the Vice Chairman said that the council is facing challenges regarding market creation and requested for lands for the purpose. He also assured them that existing ones would be upgraded.
Other pledges are improvement of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and security of lives and properties.
Also at the event, CS. Adejo Adekunle, LNSC Commanding Officer, Imota Command and CSP. Ogunniyi Babatunde, DPO, delivered papers on security in Imota LCDA.
