Jare OLUKOTUN
Ikorodu Heroes (I-Heroes), an association of young professionals from Ikorodu Division , has congratulated the elected and appointed representatives from the division while also setting agenda for them.
The agenda was contained in a release by the President of the group which was read at the reception in honour of the elected and appointed representatives by Liaison Group of the Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division (EPID) held at the Ikorodu Town Hall on Friday, September 6, 2019.
Mr Seun Elesho, the President of the group , while reading the release titled, ‘What is the Ikorodu Division Agenda? ‘, congratulated the elected and appointed representatives and enjoined them to use their positions to develop the division.
“We lend our humble voice to congratulate all elected and appointed representatives in Lagos State, Lagos East, and particularly, Ikorodu Division.
“Lagos State is already a cosmopolitan city and by the visionary leadership Lagos state has enjoyed to date, the state is positioned as a mini Nigeria with a continuous inflow of citizens from all over the country. This implies that Lagos State must continue to be managed dynamically, creatively and proactively in readiness for the future”.
He stated that Ikorodu provides accommodations for people who cannot cope with high cost of living in Island and Mainland parts of the state and charged the honorees to ensure that other divisions recognize Ikorodu division as partner and major stakeholder in the state arrangement and be treated fairly.
“Ikorodu division should not be left out as the division accounts for most of the newly developing areas which provide accommodations for Lagosians and others that cannot cope with the high cost of living in most areas of the Lagos Island and many parts of Ikeja, Surulere and other areas. The question now is ‘Is Ikorodu prepared to be relevant within the State and Nigeria in the Next 20 to 50 years looking at the advancement of human life in the country?’ .
“While not forgetting that Ikorodu is an indigenous community that holds in high esteem her relationship with other parts of the state, it must also be ensured that such relationship is symbiotic and favorable to the division”.
Comrade Elesho charged the honorees to use their good offices for the protection of Ikorodu’s image and values and also ensure its development.
“We acknowledge the fact that your appointments have placed you in service to the entire Lagos State and Nigeria at large. However, we want to recap that as you preoccupy your mind with service to the State which must not be compromised for any reason, you should, nevertheless, note that you will not be recognized or treated fairer than the community that produced you.
“Hence, there is need for all of you that are being celebrated today to work in your capacity and collectively safeguard and improve the integrity associated with Ikorodu Division.
He thanked the organisers of the event for the initiative which he said brought the representatives of the division and others together, adding that the group expected that the reception would set agenda for the pubic office holders which they would be accountable for.
“We also thank the Eminent Personality of Ikorodu Division (EPID) for organizing an event like this. We strongly hope and believe that today’s reception will be an annual event where Ikorodu Divisional Developmental matters shall be discussed, appraised and relevant stakeholders’ engagement would be explored.
“It is, therefore, our prayers , as young people of Ikorodu Division , that this should end up creating developmental Agenda for Ikorodu Division which will form the basis for evaluating public office holders both functioning within the division and Lagos State at large.
“Amongst other things, we also expect this gathering to look into but not limited to the following: Possibility of having another major access road into and out of Ikorodu, Resumption and completion of major road constructions in IKorodu such as Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road,Igbogbo, Agric-Isawo Road and others, Paying attention to the traffic gridlock caused by the activities at the Owode Onirin Market, Deliberate Master Plan for New Town Development, Raising relevant conversation for Ikorodu Human Capital Development and Provision of Recreation and sport center.
“Also, there is need for improved security network and controlling the menace of cultism and abuse of drugs, Provision of schools in the newly developing areas within the Division , upgrade of the existing educational infrastructures with renewed emphases on vocational and technical education, Upgrading of the General Hospital in the division and establishment of new ones, Creation of Taxi, Okada and Tricycle parks within the Division towards a better management of domestic transportation , Affordable market space should also be provided for our mothers to take them off the major roads and stop the massive traffic being caused by their trading activities in the process.
“With the capacity of the organizers of this event, we are confident that by this time next year , the division will be counting the gains of today’s discussions and resolutions”.
