Kunle Adelabu
A chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, KJW, has called on the government to stop releasing lands back to any family, stating that such land should be use for the public good by providing necessary infrastructures.
Sen. Ogunlewe, who was a former Minister of Works, argued that lands that are being released to various families, are only getting into the hands of landgrabbers and also making it difficult for the government to have access to lands whenever there is need to build public infrastructures.
The elder statesman expressed his displeasure at the 10th Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting hosted by Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), the representative of Ikorodu Constituency II at the Golden J Event Centre, Oke – Eletu, Ijede, on Thursday.
“I am opposed to the release of lands to any family, because government needs these lands for developmental purposes like schools and other facilities.
“Most of these lands are being released to landgrabbers, whereas, we need land to be made available for establishment of new schools.
“Government owns all the lands and they are to use them for building of schools, hospital and housing projects. All the lands belong to the Lagos State Government and that is the law. No land belongs to any other person”.
Sen. Ogunlewe also urged the government to improve welfare for the traditional leaders whom he said are doing great job in the preservation of not just the traditional and cultural heritage, but also peace and unity among the people.
“There is need to revisit the welfare package, including salary for our traditional rulers. They are our fathers and therefore, we must respect them. They are discharging enormous responsibilities and as such, we must accord them the deserved honour.
“While political office is tenurial, traditional institution is for life”
Recall that Sen. Ogunlewe has been in the forefront resisting a section of family in Igbogbo from taking over the Igbe axis of Oriwu Senior and Junior Model Colleges, Ikorodu, after they pulled down part of the fence in connivance with some government officials.
It is also gathered that some prominent personalities in Igbogbo and Ikorodu are also part of the move to takeaway part of the fenced land allocated to Oriwu College by the Ladugba family of Igbogbo about 100 years on the pretext that the school acquired more than was released by the family.
