Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
The representative of Ikorodu federal constituency, Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, has been assured of massive support and votes in the forthcoming General Elections because of his unprecedented representation which has brought socio- economic development to Ikorodu Division in general and Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (IBLCDA).
Omo’ba Hammed Aroyewun, the Executive Chairman, IBLCDA, gave the assurance on behalf of the overall Community Development Committee (CDC), IBLCDA which has over 300 Community Development Associations (CDAs) divided into 10 zones, describing the federal lawmaker’s performance as “Koseleri” (unprecedented).
The occasion was the IBLCDA phase of the grassroots engagement workshop on Tuesday, held at the IBLCDA Secretariat premises.
Aroyewun listed Rep. Benson’s impacts in the area of road construction, medical centre, ICT and education among others, describing him as a “star that is brightening others’ paths” and “King of new generations”
“My people are appreciating you for what you have been doing for us in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, the most friendly LCDA in the whole of Lagos State. The LCDA that produced Asipa Kaoli Olusanya and the LCDA that is producing the Julius Berger of Ikorodu Division. The LCDA is so determined and resolute to reward Hon. Babajimi Benson for the “Koseleri” that he has been doing in our council come 2027 with votes
“May God continue to bless you; open doors for you and before you knock on any door, God will be there to open it for you.
“I have said it on many occasions that I am so fortunate to be a chairman when Hon. Jimi Benson is in the House of Representatives. It means that I can always call on him to help out on anything or area that the council cannot do.”
“Those of you in Oreta and Offin cannot forget Hon. Jimi Benson, likewise, those of you in Selewu; Ibeshe and those who have businesses all over will never forget him for his good and impactful representation.
“He has also pledged to give us a standard medical centre in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA.”
The council boss also confirmed that he has secured the continuation of construction of Selewu/Agunfoye to Olumo, ICT centre, a three – storey building block of classrooms.
He also stated that other council chairmen within the Conference 57 always ask those from Ikorodu not to complain because of a Governor-like representative in Jimi Benson that is facilitating numerous projects.
Emphasising that residents of IBLCDA will reward the federal lawmaker with votes come 2027, the electorate in his council will triple votes given to him in the last elections.
”My people have assured me that we are going to shock the whole world with massive votes as a reward for all that you have done and you are still doing for us.
”This we have started during the INEC PVCs when our CDC and CDA members stood firm and mobilised residents.
”Oga, I can assure you that we are going to triple the number of votes that we have you in the last election, because we know your worth and what we have benefited in the last three years and we are still going to get in the next four years.”
”We know that we are still going to get massive and monumental representation when you are re – elected for another four years. Our support for you is 100%.
”We have been having Reps in Ikorodu federal constituency but JB is different.”
Aroyewun also assured President Bola Tinunu that Ikorodu federal constituency will deliver the largest votes again come 2027.”
He, however, charged community developers, youth and residents of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA to start canvassing and mobilising people in their areas to vote President Tinunu, Rep. Benson and other APC candidates.
In his remarks, Rep. Benson thanked residents of IBLCDA and Ikorodu federal constituency for their support for him and his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) while they were just coming into the government.
He also lauded Aroyewun for his impact within a short period of his chairmanship.
”I thank you for the massive support that you have been giving me and and my party, even when you did not know us and when we were just coming into power.”
” You gave us 62, 000 vote when you did not know anything about us; when you did not know our capacity and what the government of President Tinubu would bring to you in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA.”
”But, I have been directed to tell you by the President and the incoming Governor of Lagos State, KOH (Kadri Obafemi Hamzat) that you have not seen anything yet
”I was also asked to notify you that there are capacities, capabilities and opportunities to do more , but, before we get there, we need favour, assurance and assistance from you in respect of the general elections coming up in five months time.
”We are still going to do more and we are going to bring more.”
While urging the leadership of the IBLCDA to do more in terms of canvassing and mobilising residents for more votes in the coming elections, Rep. Benson assured that the party structure and machinery would give the maximum support to deliver.
Rep. Benson assured that Ikorodu woud get more cabinet members in the next administration in the state with improved electoral performances and stressed the need to reduce the opposition votes by canvassing those that usually vote for them to align with his party.
”If we are scoring 250, 000 votes, those against us must not score more than 500 votes and that means that we must convert those that usually vote for them.”
While assuring that there will be more projects that will be commissioned, empowerment; flag + off of campaigns; enough souvenirs to go round and concerts to drive more people, the three -term federal lawmaker urged that action must be intensified on mobilising votes and campaign.
The representative of Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), who will be flying the APC flag again stressed that the campaign this time around will be strategically coordinated with focus on people with voting powers.
”We are focusing on the CDC and CDAs because throughout Ikorodu Division, our campaign is going to be focused and be led by people in the grassroots – CDC/CDA.
He pointed out the target would be to garner 80 percent votes in all the pooling units.
In his remarks, Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya, APC chieftain, informed that his party would focus its campaign on performances in the last three years and new projects that First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, Rep. Benson, Omo’ba Hammed Aroyewun and President Tinubu and others will be facilitating.
He listed the Alternative School for Girls, federal medical centres, flyover bridge, cinema and more roads, smart school for our children and more food hubs in Ikorodu West LCDA where our people will be employed.
Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya stressed that the focus is to convert the number of CDAs, religious bodies, market women and men among others into electoral figures to get more votes.
Ogboni Fuad Oki, a chieftain of the APC commended Ikorodu for leading the charge in delivering victory for President Tinubu and lauded Rep. Benson for his quality representation.
Fuad Oki charged that there is need to improve on votes because President Tinubu has enormous trust in Ikorodu federal lawmakers; the need to get more projects; the need for President Tinubu to complete the eight years tenure for Southwest and not to lose out.
While stating the Southwest will determine that electoral victory in 2027, he stressed the need to make more people come out to vote to record more percentage of registered voters.
Ogboni Oki, also stated that elections are now data driven, and emphasised the need for canvassers and mobilisers to work more on the people in the grassroots to reach more people and ensure that they come out to vote in their large numbers.
He assured the CDC/CDA that the party will work and partner with them and make them delivere adequately.
The coordinator of the grassroots workshop, Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola, emphasised that the bulk of the campaign work will be placed on the community developers because of their closeness to the grassroots.
He noted the need to start working with residents with PVCs in their wards and properly coordinate them to win maximum votes.
The Ikorodu West LCDA phase of the engagement with the CDC/CDAs hosted at the council secretariat and hosted by Hon. Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju, the Executive Chairman, took place earlier in the day.
