Kunle ADELABU
The Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the representative of Ikorodu constituency I, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, on Wednesday, June 20, hosted the council of Baales in Ikorodu Kingdom.
The parley, which was held at Hon. Agunbiade Constituency Office in ikorodu, provided the platform for the traditional chiefs to engage their representative at the State Assembly on the need for more recognition for traditional chiefs in Ikorodu Division by the Lagos State Government and improvement of their welfare.
It was also resolved at the meeting that henceforth, there would be quarterly parley between the lawmaker and the Council of Baales in Ikorodu Local Government for the purpose of updating the traditional chiefs on the representative duties of Hon. Agunbiade and also to enable the lawmaker to know about the challenges facing the Baales in their respective domains.
Hon. Agunbiade, in his welcome speech at the parley, commended the efforts of the Baales for working in tandem with the traditional ruler in Ikorodu, HRM Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, to ensure peaceful co-existence in the community.
He also commended them for supporting the State Government in ensuring good governance and secured state for the citizenry to live in.
While rolling out his legislative achievements, the three term lawmaker stated that as the Majority Leader of the Assembly, he is involved in all the legislative and oversight functions of the Assembly.
He listed facilitation of constructions of roads, securing employment for residents, empowerment for youths, facilitation of reconstruction of block of classrooms in various schools in Ikorodu, Best Brain Contest among primary and secondary schools students, sporting development designed to discover and encourage young marathoners, prevention of demolition of houses in various communities in Ikorodu, vocational skills for youths and support for market women and men among many others as some of the means through which he has impacted on the lives of the people in his constituency.
He added that the law on forceful entry into land which criminalises the activities of the ‘Ajagungbales’ in Ikorodu division is a major bill achievement which has assisted the traditional institutions in the division to exercise control over there lands and ensures security of lives and properties.
Hon. Agunbiade also challenged the Baales to support those in government to bring back the good old days to Ikorodu division.
“It’s high time that you, as traditional chiefs, will have to get involved. You cannot leave us your representatives to do the battle alone because Ikorodu sons and daughters in positions of authorities in the state are fewer. We have to start supporting our own in government”.
He also stated why he is aspiring to go back to the State Assembly for the fourth term and solicited for the support of the traditional chiefs.
“I’m willing to go back to the Lagos State House of Assembly because it is in the interest of the division that I should return back as the representative of my people. There are others that would be returning for the fifth and fourth term and the House always encourages them because they need ranking and senior members in the House to guide new members”, he explained.
“There is also the need for us (Ikorodu) to maintain what we (Ikorodu) have in government. We cannot afford to take several steps backward and yet, be claiming that we are being marginalized by others. We have to put sentiments aside and work in the interest of the division”, he further stated.
Chief Mufutau Odusoga, Chairman of the Council of Baales in Ikorodu Local Government and the Baale of Omitoro community in Ikorodu, while responding on behalf of other Baales, enjoined Hon. Agunbiade to work towards getting state recognition for the traditional chiefs in the division.
He also requested that their members who are yet to be gazetted, and are deserving, should be assisted.
While commending Hon. Agunbiade for his impactful and quality representation, Chief Odusoga also called for the improvement of welfare of the traditional chiefs, especially from the local governments.
Other speakers called for extension of two roads per local government to the interior axis of Ikorodu, quick rehabilitation of Ikorodu-Shagamu road, Ikorodu-Itoikin road, Lambo-Lasunwon road and Gberigbe road, clamour for more considerations for the Baales in the lawmaker’s programmes, among many others.
