Kunle ADELABU
As a way of addressing the issue of lack of stadium in Ikorodu which is negatively affecting sporting development across Ikorodu division, the representative of Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade and members of the All Stars football clubs in the division have agreed to work together.
The footballers, numbering about one hundred, on Sunday, September 2, 2018, also endorsed the three-term lawmaker for another term in office as the representative of Constituency I at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The veteran footballers also pledged their unflinching support for the re-election bid of the lawmaker and vowed to mobilise their members across the division to give him support.
Rising from their parley with Hon. Agunbiade on Sunday, the footballers agreed to form a committee to liaise with the governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, towards the fulfillment of his promise to give Ikorodu division a standard stadium.
Speaking at the parley, Hon. Agunbiade, while appreciating the footballers for agreeing to work with him to develop sports in the division and clarifying that it’s not lawmaker’s duty to execute project, called for the formation of committee to engage the governor on his promise to build a stadium for the division.
“Although, the governor had assured us that a befitting stadium would be built for the division, but the state in involved in many projects, so, what we are going to do in reminding the governor is to take a decision today.
“We have proposed to the governor where we want the divisional stadium to be located and he has assured us that it would be done. The location which is at Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu Main Campus, is central to the six local councils in the division.
“We are going to get five representatives from each of the All-Stars teams to form a committee and work with my office in writing to the governor to remind him about his promise to build a stadium for Ikorodu division and also tell him about your request that work should commence soon on the stadium. I can assure you that the governor always fulfills his promises”.
He stated that the government has approved the reconstruction of two other facilities while it is yet to commence work on the stadium.
“While working on the proposed stadium, the governor has approved the upgrading and rehabilitation of Ipakan sports centre and Igbogbo stadium.
Hon. Agunbiade described sports as his his primary constituency where he first made name for himself.
“Unknown to many, I became known in Ikorodu due to my football and hockey engagements. People always wanted to watch me playing because of my disability. I was a prolific player in those days.
“My first team was Santos FC and I also played for a host of others. I was at Edo ’81 and other sports festivals. I also played state league”, Hon. Agunbiade stated while recalling his playing days.
“Ikorodu All-Stars have always been inviting me to their meetings but I have not been opportuned to stay longer with them due to the demands of my office.
“They have also discussed the issue of lack of stadium with me. This, among others, was the reason I requested for this parley.
“I have met with many players in critical sector of my constituency like National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Market men and women, Lagos State Council of Tradesmen, commercial motorcycle riders, artisans and others that we have been able to do something for.
“But I’m yet to meet the footballers, who also happen to be members of my primary constituency, even though, we have been contributing to sporting development in the division. Our yearly marathon race for school children has been on for three years and the fourth edition will be coming up on the 1st of October this year. We have detected many star athletes through the race and some of those discovered have participated in races at the state level and beyond”, he stated.
Also, he seized the opportunity presented by the parley to intimate the footballers on his numerous achievements as a representative of Ikorodu Constituency I in the State Assembly.
“Our meeting here is to parley and see what we can do to support the 30th anniversary of the All-Stars FC in Ikorodu. It was in the course of this discussion that we detected that there are other All-Stars in Ebute, Lagos State Polytechnic, Fun Factory and Parafa among other places and we decided to host you all.
“I am honoured to hear all that encomiums and what you have done for me without asking for it. My intention before now was to appreciate you for honouring my invitation and seek your supports for continuous service, but I discovered that there has been an endorsement of my service for Ikorodu by you”, he stated thankfully.
“I don’t want you to base your support for me on any sentiment but on Ikorodu agenda. The issue of the lack of stadium is part of our bane. We used to have a large expanse of land along Shagamu road meant for Stadium but today, it has been converted into another use.
“There is no restriction on tenure of legislators in the whole world and this is not a mistake. Legislators make law, appropriate budget, do oversight and represent the people. It’s about advocacy, research, speaking and having a persuasive capacity to get what your people need.
“Last Wednesday (August 29), I spoke about my intention to thousands of people representing different sectors on what I have been able to do with your mandate and sought their supports for another term and after listening to what I have been able to do and what I still intend doing, they pledged their supports by endorsing me “, he stated.
“Today, I am here to render my account of stewardship to the sports sector, specifically to the soccer family because football is a universal language and rallying point. I am here as one of you to tell you that I need your support because I am the most experienced among the aspirants vying for the post that I am currently occupying ”, Hon. Agunbiade confidently informed the players.
“Today, I am the face and the voice of Ikorodu in the Lagos State House of Assembly. And that is a known face and a known voice across the Ikorodu division. As the Majority Leader, there is no sitting that I would not talk and champion the course of Ikorodu. Now,it is left for Ikorodu to either pull down that known face and known voice in the house and produce a new one or sustain the face and voice to further project them for better performance, negotiation and relevance.
“It’s not about me but the situation places me in a more strategic position. It’s about the placement of Ikorodu at a more advantageous position within the political arrangement in the State in the next four years. It’s about maintaining our number 3 position in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
“When I was fighting the landgrabbers (Ajagungbales) case in Ikorodu, I received little or no support but today, we have a law, against the menace, which was initiated by me and supported by members of the House and the law has thoroughly dealt with the issues of land grabbing in Ikorodu division and beyond.
I also fought for my people in Parafa when the government wanted to destroy 178 houses and today, no single house was destroyed. Today, the Mile 12 market, which the state government wanted to bring to Parafa has been taken to Imota.
“There was also Oko Jerry in Ikorodu North LCDA where about 300 houses were to be destroyed. I resisted it and told the House of Assembly that I will resolve the matter. It was a case between LAWMA and house owners in that area. It took me three months to resolve the matter and no single house was demolished. The same thing at Lambo-Lasunwon where residents encroached on a parcel of land belonging to the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
“I present to you the compilation of my account of stewardship and a copy each will be given to you so that you can study it to know what we have been able to do so far.
“Having said all I have been able to do, I am seeking your support for another term because I have a conviction for greater impact. In the Assembly, seniority matters and it is even enshrined in the rules of the House. Ranking members are consider first for principal offices and important committees.
“At the Assembly presently, there are 40 members out of which 20 are new, 11 returned for second term, 6 of us are serving the third term while the remaining three are serving their fourth term.
“Ikorodu should build, sustain and support their own children for greater impacts. This is the same reason we have fewer people at the top echelon of the civil service and why we only have one cabinet member in the state executive council.
“Today, we are supporting each of the All-Stars Football Clubs across the division with a set of jerseys, a set of balls and a set of hose .It’s just our way of giving you support and henceforth, we shall bring you closer for cordial relationship.
Mr Lanre Olabinjo, Chairman, Ikorodu All Stars Football Club, in his speech, stated that Hon. Agunbiade deserves another term as the representative of Ikorodu people because of his sterling performances and quality representation.
He added that Ikorodu cannot afford to drop the three term lawmaker with all his legislative experience and acumen because of sentiment.
“Nobody can claim that Hon. Agunbiade is not delivering on his promises. He has always represent us very well, hence he deserves our supports for another term. We have to speak in unison in his support” , Mr Olabinjo stated.
Earlier, Mr Steve Ogundele, member of Ikorodu All-Stars FC, who anchored the programme, in his remarks commended Hon. Agunbiade for his practical representation and asked him to ensure that a standard stadium is constructed in the division.
He stated that lack of a stadium and other sporting facilities is affecting the development of football and other sports in the division.
Hon. Azeez Jimoh Olosugbo, the Chief Political Strategist to Hon. Agunbiade, in his own brief remarks, stated that the parley would allow the sports family to brainstorm on the way forward for sports, especially football development, in Ikorodu.
While also speaking on the reason Hon. Agunbiade should go back to the House, Olosugbo stated that:
“The dynamics of Lagos State politics do not allow Ikorodu to change its voice and face at the Assembly. This voice and face happens to be the best in the Lagos State House of Assembly and the number three man of the same Assembly for that matter.
“As a division, we cannot afford to be relegated in the scheme of things in the next four years and the best way to do that is to ensure that we return Hon. Agunbiade to the Assembly to improve on his ranking and maintain his postion as a principal officer of the House so that we can have somebody competent to speak and champion our cause whenever issues bothering on Ikorodu and the entire division is raised in the Assembly.
“His aspiration is all about ensuring that Ikorodu is in a good stead within the Lagos State political arrangement. We are hereby soliciting for your assistance and support in achieving this through his reelection in the coming general elections in 2019”, he appealed.
