Kunle Adelabu
The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Emugoriade I, has pleaded with the Federal and State Governments to ensure that security of lives and properties in Igbogbo and entire lkorodu Division are paramount.
The royal father also reminded the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, about the compensation for residents who are victims of houses demolition by his predecessor to create right of way for the reconstruction and expansion of Ipakodo – Igbogbo – Bola Tinubu – Igbe – Ijede road.
It would be recalled that the administration of Mr Akinuwmi Ambode in December 2017 demolished hundreds of houses in Igbogbo to create right of way for the proposed expansion and reconstruction of the road that will pass through Igbogbo township and link Ijede road which is also now under reconstruction.
Oba Kasali and his chiefs had, prior to the demolition, engaged major stakeholders in Igbogbo and also visited owners of the houses, mostly ancestral homes, to plead with them to allow government to embark on the road construction.
He also assured residents that government wwould pay compensation to them before the commencement of the reconstruction.
However, the previous administration, though failed to commence the reconstruction work before its termination, did paid some of the victims of the demolition but a large percentage are yet to get their compensation.
Oba Kasali called on the Federal and Lagos State Governments as well as appropriate agencies to take the security of lives and property serious, especially as it relates to his community.
“There is no better time to come together to stem the prevailing incidents of cult related violence and other forms of insecurity than now. The cultists must be treated as ‘common enemies’ to themselves and the future of our great Igbogbo Kingdom”, Oba Kasali said.
He also drew the attention of the government to the plight of lgbogbo residents on the state of roads and compensation for their demolished houses in the community, stating that adequate infrastructure is necessary in ensuring a viable economy towards discouraging urban migration.
Oba Kasali, whose house was among the buildings that were recently flooded across Ikorodu division and Lagos State, also called for the state government’s intervention on flooding issue in the State.
“I would like to draw the attention of the government to the issue of flooding and how it threatens the lives of my people, as well as the delay in compensating people of Igbogbo Kingdom whose houses were demolished to pave ways for road construction.”
While thanking the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Olufemi Hamzat, for their unalloyed support, the trained lawyer also used the opportunity to remind the Governor of the compensation for his people.
“It is enough pain to lose one’s ancestral home(s) for the development of our kingdom. But it is more disheartening to wait endlessly for compensation that is meant to resettle the heroes/heroines of this noble sacrifice”.
