Kunle ADELABU
The Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division (EPID), a body comprising of important personalities who have made marks for themselves in their respective professions and who cut across the six local governments of Ikorodu division of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, is set to reposition for social, economic and political development of the division.
A major step in this direction was the Working Document presented to the public by its Liaison Group at the Gbadamosi hall of the Ikorodu Town hall on Tuesday, May 15, 2018.
The document states the group’s new mission and vision in taking the division higher among other divisions in the state and among comity of communities.
The Group was formed on 4th of March, and inaugurated on 15th of April, 2014, by the late Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Salaudeen Oyesfusi, to champion the Governorship ambition and political repositioning of the division within the Lagos State political arrangement.
Sir Engr. (Chief) Shoderu R.O, the Chairman of the Liaison Group of EPID, in his address at the public presentation, stated that the main objective of the Group is to act as the face of development for Ikorodu division in liaison with the three tiers of government in Nigeria.
“It is a great honour and privilege for me to welcome and address you on this occasion of the public presentation of the Working Document of the Liaison Group established by the Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division.
“The major objective for setting up this Group is to act as the face of development for Ikorodu division in liaison with the three (3) levels of government in Nigeria i.e. Federal, State and Local Governments, as well as foreign governments and international bodies and organizations”.
Speaking on the Working Document, Sir Shoderu stated that the document, which was a product of a think- tank committee, has set out another mission and vision for the achievement of the Group’s objectives.
“We now have new Vision and Mission Statements, a new set of objectives aimed at repositioning the Group as the ‘engine room’ for the socio-economic development of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Nigeria”, he revealed.
The new vision state of the Group is, “To be an ‘engine room’ which will create a future of excellence in all ramifications for Ikorodu division by harnessing all resources available for development in line with the global Human Development Index (HDI)”.
The Mission Statement is, “To monitor the pattern of distribution of socio-political, infrastructural and economic resources of the State with a view to seeking and ensuring equity and accountability” , Sir Shoderu stated.
The Group also announced at the event that its membership drive has yielded positive result with increase from 7 to about 100 members cutting across different disciplines and every part of the division.
Senator Olanrewaju Ganiu Solomon, former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who was saddled with the public presentation of the document, commended the Group for renewing itself for the greater Ikorodu division.
The Senator pledged his continuous support for the Group, while also enjoining the Group to re-establish Ikorodu’s political importance in the state.
Chief Tele Oduloye, a chieftain of the Group, while speaking earlier, stated that part of the body’s attempt to regain the lost glory of the division led to the ‘Ikorodu for Governor Agenda’ which failed to materialize in 2015.
He deplored the arrangement thereafter where the division was not considered for the Speakership and Senatorial positions due to its clamour for the Governorship position.
Chief Oduloye, however, assured that the division would, through the Working Document, regain its political space while also stating that the division should be considered for the Lagos East senatorial position in 2019 since the incumbent, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, has served two term.
Other members of the Liaison Group at the public presentation were Dr Tajudeeen Bawallah, Prince Segun Ogunlewe, Prof. Kunle Ade Wahab, Hon. (Alhaja) Odujinrin, Otunba David Ekiyoyo, Hon. Saheed Ibikunle, Dr Harrison Adeniji and Mr Taiwo Oduloye among many others.
