Wale Jagun with Mariam Akinloye & Odede Kenneth
Support for the representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, has continued to grow in leaps and bounds as residents of Ikorodu Division in Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, have sustained their demand for his continuous representation in any capacity.
The residents, on Saturday, showed their seriousness on the matter and sustained the campaign which has dominated every platform related to Ikorodu in the recent weeks, by extending same to the streets when political office holders, youth groups, student bodies and other residents of Ikorodu Division of Lagos State stormed Rep. Benson’s constituency office in Ikorodu to declare their support.
The campaigners who were in their hundreds marched from the lawmaker’s office where they were addressed by the Director -General of Rep. Benson’s operational group, Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola, to Igbogbo, where the movement berthed at the Adeboruwa Palace where the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barrister) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, also received them.
The initiative tagged, “Hon. JB Solidarity Walk”, was organised by political office holders under the aegis of the Lagos State Supervisors and Special Advisers, Ikorodu Division Forum (LSSIKDF). The position of the group which was signed by Comrade Abdullateef Odusanya, Chairman Planning Committee, Prince Muyideen Olatunji Yusuf, Secretary Planning Committee and Arakunrin Ogidan Kazeem Sowemimo, the Forum’s Coordinator was read by the two term Supervisor in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Comrade Abdullateef Odusanya.
“Today, we did not just walk. We made a statement.
“We, the Lagos State Supervisors and Special Advisers, Ikorodu Division Forum, representing Ikorodu LGA and the 5 LCDAs of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, have gathered here in unity, in strength, and with one voice to publicly declare our total support for Hon. Babajimi Adegoke Benson and to passionately appeal to him to contest any position he deems fit in the forthcoming elections,” the forum declared.
The group emphasised that their support for Rep. Benson who is the Chairman, House Committee on Defence is not based on sentiment, but rather on what the lawmaker has been able to do with the mandate given to him and the march and clamouring for his declaration is to urge him to do more for Ikorodu and Lagos State by extension.
“This show of support is not politics. It is gratitude. It is a reward for excellence. It is a call for continuity of progress.”
The group listed why it is championing the call for Rep. JB to contest as follows:
“Proven Track Record: JB has moved beyond promises to performance. Through the iCare Foundation, road interventions, school projects, ICT centres, empowerment programmes, and solar installations, every ward in Ikorodu Division has felt the impact of JB. We cannot afford to lose such capacity.
“Grassroots Connection: JB is not a stranger to us. He lives our reality, picks our calls, and attends to our people. The 130 Supervisors and SAs here can attest to the fact that JB’s door has never been shut to the grassroots.
Also, “Effective Representation: As Chairman, House Committee on Defence, JB has brought dignity, respect, and federal presence to Ikorodu. When JB speaks, Ikorodu is respected. We are appealing to him to continue this quality representation.
“Party Loyalty & Unity: JB is a true progressive who has consistently empowered APC members across all 6 Local Councils without bias. He unites, he builds, and he delivers.”
The body of Supervisors and Special Advisers, thus, resolved to wit:
“That we declare our unflinching support for Hon. Babajimi Adegoke Benson.
“That we humbly appeal to Hon. JB to heed the call of his people and contest in the forthcoming elections again.
“That we pledge to mobilize our structures across the 30 wards of Ikorodu Federal Constituency to ensure overwhelming victory for JB if he accepts our appeal and, that we call on party leaders, stakeholders, traditional rulers, and all well-meaning indigenes and people of Ikorodu Division to join us in supporting this appeal.
They furthered in their demand, “This is not an imposition. This is a passionate appeal from the grassroots to a performing leader: JB, Ikorodu needs you. Please run.
The group urged the royal father and others in Ikorodu Division to acknowledge the demands of Ikorodu people and give their blessings to the lawmaker to contest.
“Kabiyesi, we walked from JB’s Constituency Office to your palace because you are our father and the symbol of our unity. As we show support for your son JB today, we seek your royal blessings. Bless him, Kabiyesi. Bless Ikorodu Division. Bless this call for continuity.
To Hon. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, we say: “You have supported Ikorodu. Now Ikorodu is supporting you. You have carried our burdens. Now we are asking you to carry our mandate again. Please answer this call”, the political office holders urged Rep. Benson.
Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola, DG, iCare Foundation, the operational arm of Rep. Benson, appreciated the political office holders , youths and other groups in Ikorodu Division for their love for his principal.
“All I want to say is that we really do appreciate what you guys are doing here today because it’s a good one and at some point, we will find a way to show our appreciation to everyone that was present here. In our own little way, we will appreciate you.”
He urged them to go about their campaign peacefully and in a way that would not cause any untoward developments.
“Please, be very careful. Don’t get into any altercation with anyone. If at all there’s a need to explain yourself, please, do it in a polite manner; don’t get into any arguments, and don’t escalate the situation.
“The faces I’m seeing here are very decent. Don’t let anybody be smoking weed behind you because when there’s rally, some people tend to do such, please don’t do that because it will mess up the brand.
“I want to thank everyone for showing up and we will see each other next week when we kick start our local government visitations,” Mayor Sanwoola said.
In his royal message while welcoming the campaigners to his palace, Oba Kasali, acknowledged that Rep. Benson has made great impacts across the Ikorodu Federal Constituency.
Kabiyesi Orimadegun Kasali assured the people that their message would be delivered to the lawmaker and he would be urged to continue to represent Ikorodu Division.
“JB works cut across the division. You have spoken and we have heard and pray that God gives him good health and a long life.
“We have listened to your message and your coming today is to let him know he has people behind him and you also want us to be aware of those that want to make him feel tired and that, we shouldn’t let that happen.
“We are also telling you that the Adeboruwa -in -Council will deliver your message to him and that we will urge him not to get tired or relent, but to continue his good works.”
While also urging the campaigners not to get tired, Oba Kasali also appealed to them to be peaceful with their demands.
“My prayer is that he will continue to succeed and I want to implore you all that we shouldn’t get tired and we should not fight ourselves. We must manage the situation because we are not tired of JB yet and he has not finished his job yet. We are also praying for higher heights for him,” Adeboruwa said.
Prince Kehinde Ibrahim Oladega, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Mobilisation and Strategy, who was also part of the march said that the march indicates the important impacts that Rep. Benson is making in the lives of his constituents.
“It signifies strength; it signifies acceptance of Jimi Benson; it signifies his roles, and impacts in the life of the good people of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, because every footprint of every development, it is all the footprint of the All Progressives Congress and you should understand that Jimi Benson is a reflection of our party in Ikorodu Federal Constituency.
“We are not in doubt when we see the supervisors’ forum in Ikorodu and others come together to tell the world that as far as Ikorodu is concerned, they are with JB,” he said.
Newly appointed member of the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Princess Folashade Olabanji -Oba, also spoke in the manner of others, lauding the lawmaker’s impact which has endeared him to the hearts of his people.
“It’s a love walk; solidarity walk for a leader and a representative that we all adore and this is us saying we want more and across Ikorodu Division, he has done tremendously well and we want to say we love him and we are praying for strength.
“As we go into the election, we are standing and standing tall. We stand with Hon Babajimi Banson of Ikorodu Division,” she declared.
Mr Yinka Ogbe, an aspirant for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat, Lagos State House of Assembly, who said that he is happy to be part of the walk described Rep. Benson as a performer.
“It’s imperative that one shows solidarity for the cause because it’s what we demand from our representatives: to be performance – based; to have a clearer vision and a loud voice, which he has been doing with great effects on Ikorodu Federal Constituency. I am happy to identify with him.
“I’ll implore him not to rest because he can still do more. He has the power, the energy and has shown that and I can only pray for more energy, grace and for a greater future for him,” Ogbe said.
