Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-How I achieve my goals, build council secretariat – Daini
It was a day of tributes for the outgoing Chairman of the council, Builder Sesan Daini, for his laudable achievements and contributions to the council in the last eight years, as the apex body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, on Thursday hosted a valedictory service in his honour.
He was presented with the award at a valedictory service in his honour at the home of Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun in Igbogbo and witnessed by the Chairman of the APC divisional apex body, and the former Deputy Governor of Lagos, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye and other divisional apex leaders.
Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) of the APC and chief host, while addressing chieftains and other guests at the event said that it was organized to celebrate the outgoing chairman after eight years of his dedicated service in the office.
“We are here to honour Comrade – Builder Sesan Daini for an eventful eight years in office.
“As a thing of joy, the first chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA is here with us, so also is the second chairman alive. The former Executive Secretary of the Council, Hon. Taiwo Orenuga and former Sole Administrator, Mrs Funmi Basorun (both absent at the event) are also alive and in good health. This calls for thanksgiving.
“They are all doing well, contributing to the party and community and whatever success that we have achieved today is not because Daini is the best or Basorun is the second best or anybody, it is because all of us have been working in unity.
“The apex leaders have come to pay tributes to this gentleman and honour him,” the elder statesman declared.
Announcing that the apex body is also presenting Daini an award for his service, the GAC chieftain said:
“The award that we are presenting to him is symbolic and represents the collective desire of the apex and entire people of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA. It is a Super Excellence Award for his laudable achievements.“
Chieftains and other guests that spoke commended Builder Daini in their tributes and also used the occasion to lecture the incoming council officials.
Former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye commended the outgoing council chairman for his impacts in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA and Ikorodu Division as a whole describing him as an active young man.
He expressed the happiness of the leadership of the party at the monuments as reflected in the building of the council secretariat and palace among other laudable achievements.
Aswiaju Kaoli Olusanya, former Commissioner and chieftain of the ruling party justified and emphasised that the honour being done on the outgoing chairman was deserving because of his sense of responsibilities and accountability in the last eight years.
“I want to reiterate the reasons we are celebrating the outgoing chairman, Sesan Daini. It’s not just an emotional occasion or a political sitting. It is a celebration of a person based on facts, concrete achievements derived from a plan that was constituted from the wards, stakeholders and community at large and moderated by the apex body of the party and used as a template.
“The chairman comes to the apex here (Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun’s house) to give account and show accountability and responsibility of the work given to him to do. It is rare. It’s not common because most people usually get lost in positions.
“They don’t have plans and when you ask them, they will tell you it is in their heads and when you try to check them, you will be told that you will be invited and some people can even say that they were not sent to you.
“Such cannot be our chairman that we elected and are in the office by our mandate.”
He impressed it upon the incoming elected council officials that it is because of the party and the performances of elected representatives of the party that they were elected into offices and emphasised the need for them to be accountable.
Asipa Kaoli urged them to have programmes and engage party leaders and other stakeholders from time – to – time.
“Celebrating Daini today because he has shown that level of responsibility and accountability deserves it and this is why we can stand for him; that we know what he did. That is why we are celebrating him.
“This is a lesson to those coming in and to our personal lives. We must have a clear plan, a goal and checklist. To guide where we are going, what to do and how to do it. That is how to live a progressive life and how you can lead a progressive society and that is what you have seen in Daini.
“I want to use this occasion to appeal to those who are coming in to learn from somebody who has done well. Let’s use his template by going to your leaders and improve on it. There is no way your performances can be assessed without a plan.
“I congratulate Daini for his readiness to learn and submit himself to the authorities. Others refused to submit themselves and we congratulate him for doing that,” he said.
Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), representative of Ikorodu Constituency II, Lagos State House of Assembly celebrates the honoree for not only completing his two terms of eight years alive but for also recording exceptional achievements.
“I want to thank God for seeing my dear brother through rigorous eight years and for ending great and honoured with services like this. It is a thing of joy and we must return all the glory and adoration to God for starting the journey well with him and finishing with his high attainment.
“Not all the chairmen that are finishing together with him and doing so gallantly like him; and many cannot even have reception like this. Confidently, I can say that because when we were coming to the (Adeboruwa) palace, I witnessed some of the Obas cursing some of their chairmen while they were praying for him (Daini).
“I celebrate God in your life. It is just a special grace that you have received. You are able to finish and kings celebrated and prayed for you and leaders of the apex body in Ikorodu Division are also here to celebrate you,” Hon. AMA said.
He also charged him to continue to be relevant in the party and community.
Former Commissioner Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola was also full of commendations and linked his success to the taking of the advice that she offered him and others and also the structure put in place by the apex leaders that serves as check.
She thanked him for his respect for the leadership and urged those coming to emulate his good deeds which have made him climb the ladder from his position as a Personal Assistant, Supervisor, and then to serving as Council Chairman.
Alhaji Rilwan Jinadu, executive member of the Divisional APC body and Mr Adewale Bolowotan, Chief of Staff to the outgoing chairman who also spoke commended the honoree for being a good ambassador of Ikorodu Division.
The outgoing Chairman of the council, Builder Sesan Daini, in his remarks thanked the leadership of his party for the honour and also for their support all through this administration.
Daini also used his valedictory service to unveil how he was able to achieve some of his laudable projects, especially the council’s administrative building.
“I just want to use this opportunity to thank God for everything and thank you, my fathers and mothers for everything and for making me succeed. It has not been easy. It has not been a smooth journey, that I must confess.
“When we started the secretariat project, the maximum that we were collecting then was N6milion. It was not even enough to pay salaries and I would call on my cabinet to charge them on why we must do something with it .
“Through this, I was able to save N500, 000, N600, 000 and sometimes N1million from what we were collecting and at times, I would appeal to them to forgo the sitting allowances and they usually agreed. That was how we saved N20 Million within nine months which was used as the first payment for the administrative building,” he explained.
Speaking on his set objectives at the inception of his administration and how he dealt with challenges and criticisms, Daini charged incoming officials to always process criticism very well and learn from it instead of getting distracted by it.
“When I was sworn -in (as Chairman), I had two main objectives. One, to keep the name of my family and two, to leave office honourably, and I thank God for achieving these. In achieving the two, it does not mean that it has not been challenging but lessons to all is that we all have to show total commitment.
“We must have plans and in pursuing them, a lot of unexpected things will come your way but you must remain focused and don’t get distracted. A minute’s distraction can make you lose the will, but you remain focused and do not get yourself distracted.
“A lot of stones will be thrown at you but the best that you can do with those stones is to pick them and build a mansion with them,” he said.
Daini charged the incoming council officials further, said:
“The narrative of all that I have said is that a lot of criticisms would come and when they come, don’t get distracted, pick the good ones. At times when a mad man on the street speaks, it can be useful. Pick every criticism that comes your way, sieve them and I tell you that there is no way that you can be a perfect being and think that people seeing you are not seeing your shortcomings.
“Take note of them and silently, diplomatically and strategically look for a way to amend and make them even in their own inner selves see that the particular things that they have complained about have been corrected,” he advised.
He thanked leaders for the honour and for giving him the opportunity to serve.
“I want to thank the apex of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA. This is so big for me and God will honour all of you. That you have decided to honour me today, you will always be celebrated. Thank you all for celebrating with me and thanks to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for giving me the opportunity to serve.”
Also at the event were Prince Segun Ogunlewe, former Head of Service, Lagos State, Pastor Ajetunmobi. divisional apex body Secretary, Alhaji Jamiu Adio Saka, Divisional APC chieftain, Hon. Gbenga Oshin, former member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Gbenga Basanya, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Prince Jimoh Ogunmuyiwa, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Alhaji Atobajaiye Benson, APC chieftain in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Alhaji Abdullahi Bobomi, APC chieftain, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Ola Ayetoba, former APC Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Sefiu Ogunyemi, APC chieftain, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Nurudeen Alimi, outgoing Council Leader, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Council Manager, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA and Barr. Ade Ayeni, the outgoing Secretary to Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA and Vice Chairman – elect of the same council among others.
