Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-As Rep. Benson flags – off road, apologises to residents
The representative of Ikorodu Constituency II, Rep.Babajimi Benson, has assured residents of Agbede and Ita – Oluwo communities and other users of the 7.5km Agbede/Ita – Oluwo Road, that the road would be completed and delivered in six months.
To achieve this, the federal lawmaker said that two contractors have been engaged to handle the construction – while one will start the construction at the Agbede end of the road, the other will do the same from the Ita – Olu axis, in order to speedily address the deplorable state of the road which had held back development in the nine communities with over 80 Community Development Associations (CDAs) that lie between Ikorodu North and Ikorodu West Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
Rep. Benson revealed this while flagging – off the road at the weekend with council chairmen, political leaders, stakeholders and residents in attendance.
He commended the residents’ endurance and faithfulness to the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), despite the lack of government presence in the area for decades.
“I want to ask for forgiveness from you because you’ve been suffering from this road since 1979, but you didn’t punish us with the pains. You still have the highest votes in the whole Ikorodu Division. Whenever you’re not number one in terms of votes casted, you’ll be number two which means you know patience has its reward.
“When the former Chairman of our party in Ikorodu Central, Alhaji Rilwan Jinadu, came to me with Hon. Banjo, for about four years, with the road measurement of 7.5km, I told him that I didn’t have the power then, because it was not President Bola Tinubu that was in power.
“He was very persistent and told me that he doesn’t want any other things from me again if I can do the road for him. This was not just a 7.5km road, but also very wide in breadth. But now, we have a Renewed Hope in President Tinubu, and I am empowered to undertake the road”, Rep. Benson said as there was a loud roar from hundreds of residents gathered.
While emphasizing his pleading with the residents, he assured them that the road would be completed in good time.
“They said you have 80 CDAs which is the largest in any community in Ikorodu Division. They said the Industrial Estate is close to this place, which is the biggest in West Africa. They said you have nine communities: seven in Ikorodu North LCDA and two in Ikorodu West LCDA.
“So, I would apologize again, you should not have suffered for this long. I apologize on behalf of the state government; I apologize on behalf of the federal government and I apologize on behalf of the councils, but comfort has come. Your street will be 11meters wide with street lights.
“The first phase of 3km will be completed within 6 months. Apart from that, you will have a 2 metre walkway. So, you will be walking on a paved road.
“Also, within the six months, we will use two contractors to bring about competition. While one will start from one end, the other will start from the other end”, he said.
He charged residents of the area to ensure that they troop out to register to get their PVCs and if that is done, another road that would link the one done by the Lagos State Government would be undertaken.
While urging cooperation with the contractor, Rep. Benson also commended Community Development Committee (CDC), Prince Adeniran Ogunbanwo and a host of others for their persistence in the last four years.
In his remarks, Hon. Ibrahim Olawale Apanishile, Executive Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, on behalf of the youths and the entire residents of Ikorodu North LCDA, thanked the federal lawmaker for his quality representation, especially for undertaken the construction of the important Agbde -Ita Olu Road construction.
Emphasising the importance of the road, the council chairman, who said that his council is one of the biggest in the state, added that people can link Odogunyan, Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) and other places, including other states, from Agric through the Agbede – Ita Oluwo Road.
He, however, appealed to the Rep. Benson to also assist with the Odogunyan Industrial Estate Road.
Hon. Segun Aluko, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, also speaking, commended the lawmaker for bringing relief to the people of the two councils by embarking on the construction of a road that he said its construction is beyond the two LCDAs.
He congratulated the residents and other users that would be making use of the road in earnest.
Executive Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Omo’ba Hammed Aroyewun, expressed his delight at the development he called a landmark which will bring relief to the residents and improve the social and economic lives in Ikorodu Division.
“I was delighted to witness another giant stride from our representative at the Federal House, Hon. Babajimi Benson, as he flagged off the 7.5km Agbede–Ita Oluwo Road project in Ikorodu North LCDA.
“This landmark project is not only a relief to the people of that axis, but also a clear reflection of Hon. Benson’s tireless commitment to opening up our communities and driving development across Ikorodu Division. This road, which cuts across 80 CDAs and 8 communities, will ease movement, opens up new opportunities, and bring real relief to countless residents along its stretch. It is a project that will serve the present and future needs of our people”.
The Special Adviser to the Governor Rural Development, Dr Nurudeen Agbaje, in his remarks, thanked the federal lawmaker for opening up Agbede and Ita – Oluwo communities with the road project, for development after several decades of neglect.
He urged residents to repay what he has done for them by registering and voting massively for the APC in the next elections.
Hon. Adeola Jokomba, State APC Secretary who was a former Council Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, in his own remarks, said that he would have been relieved if he has had Rep. Benson during his tenure as the council boss, because of his infrastructural developments across the Ikorodu Federal Constituency.
He called for support for the administration of President Bola Tinubu and Rep Benson, and also emphasised the need for more people to register and vote.
Prince Adeniran Ogunbawo, the Ikorodu North LCDA CDC Chairman who also played a major role in making Rep. Benson undertake the construction of the road, while also appreciating him for the project, also said that the road that cuts across 80 CDAs also connects Ogun State.
“This road cuts across 80 CDAs, and it will benefit both Ogun State and Lagos State. For example, people coming from Odongunyan Bus Stop will easily pass through here, link Isawo, and then connect the expressway”.
He also thanked the Baales, CDAs Chairmen and other stakeholders in Agbede and Ita Oluwo axis for supporting and cooperating with him to achieve successes.
Also speaking, Chairman, Agbede Joint CDAs, Alhaji Rasheed Hussein, said that the project represents the perseverance of the people and prayer being answered after a long time.
“With a heart full of gratitude, joy and hope, I stand before you today to address this historic gathering. This is not just another ceremony, it is a day that will forever be remembered in the annals of our community’s history. Today, we broke ground for the construction of the long – awaited 7.5km Agbede to Ita – Oluwo Road.
“The project is more than asphalt and stones, it represents the sweat, prayers and collective aspirations of our people. It is the reward of years of patience, unity, and faith in purposeful leadership”, he said.
Other prominent personalities at the flag – off were Hon. Gbalahan Ogunleye, representative of Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. (Dr.) Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), Ikorodu Constituency II, Bashorun Babatunde Rotinwa, former Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani, Divisional Chairman, APC, Hon. Kunle Ogunbela, former Chairman, Ikorodu North, Captain Benson, APC chieftain, Hon. Jimoh Ogunmuyiwa, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Pastor Olawunmi Ajetunmobi, Secretary, APC apex body, Ikorodu Division, and Alhaji Rilwan Jinadu, former APC Chairman among others.
