Kunle Adelabu
The 2020 Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting, organized by the Lagos State House of Assembly and held across the 40 Constituency in the state on Thursday, October 29, 2020, recorded tonnes of demands and requests by the Ikorodu cconstituents who trooped out enmasse to support Hon S. O. B. Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who was the host for the Ikorodu Constituency l version of the meeting.
At the meeting held at the 700 Seater Hall, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Constituents from the three Councils that made up of Ikorodu Constituency I: Ikorodu Local Government, Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area and Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area, clamoured for restructuring of the federation, state police, return of security operatives to provide security and good road networks in Ikorodu among others.
Representatives of the traditional council, Community Development Committees/Community Development Associations (CDCs/CDAs), Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), National Association of Ikorodu Division Students (NAIDS), National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ikorodu Division youth Initiatives Movement (IDYIM), Market association, Media, Religious groups, Professional bodies, Trade groups, Political parties among many others were in attendance.
The host, Hon. Sanai Oyeniran Bolanle Agunbiade, speaking at the event, stated that the annual Town hall meeting was put in place for interaction between the government and the governed.
He said that demands and requests from people at the meeting are meant to assist the government in making policies and programmes that would be beneficial to the people.
“We all know that the Annual Constituency Stakeholders Meeting was created to interface between the people and the government, particularly the parliament which serves as the eyes, nose and ears of the people”, he said.
“Your participation, therefore, gives your elected representatives an opportunity to enumerate the achievements recorded, to inform you further about government policies and programmes while the constituents on the other hand are expected to list infrastructural and social amenities required in their various communities for the attention and implementation by the government, particularly for inclusion in the budget of the coming year”.
The Lagos Majority Leader added that the Assembly will continue to ensure good governance through a participatory process and pleaded with stakeholders to suggest ways of serving them better during the session.
“While assuring you that the 9th Assembly would continue to do everything within its reach to bring governance to the people to enable participatory governance, we urge you to continue to support the government by performing your civic roles.
“It is on this note that I urge you all to contribute actively and positively to the discussions for the progress of our community, local government and the State as whole. We assure you that we will always represent you adequately.
“Therefore, I wish to request you to please feel free to make valuable contributions on the various spheres of the State economy that can strengthen our resolve to do more. In addition, whatever information, suggestions and contributions garnered from this exercise, would be used by the Government in policy formulation and execution”
Agunbiade also added that those willing to submit complaints, suggestions and positions on how government can serve the state, particularly Ikorodu better, still have Friday, October 30, 2020, to do so at his Constituency Office located at the Ikorodu Grammar, Oke Ota – Ona, Ikorodu.
“We will obtain memoranda from you, and for those who are yet to come up with their memoranda but wish to send one, you still have up till Friday, 30th October, 2020 to submit same at my Constituency Office. l am assuring you that the 9th Assembly would continue to do everything within its reach to bring governance closer to the people to enable participatory governance.
“I thank you all for honouring our invitation at all times and for encouraging us so far. We are certain that the outcome of today’s meeting would further improve our collective efforts towards reshaping our socio-economic life and making Lagos State our desired dream and the Centre of Excellence that it is. We urge you to continue to support the government by carrying out your civic roles”.
Demands/Requests By Constituents
A major request made by most of those that spoke during the interactive session at the stakeholders’ meeting was the need to restructure the country.
Speakers like Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, the Vice Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos East, Otunba Ayodele Elesho, the Agbaakin of Ikorodu and former Commissioner for Information, His Royal Majesty, Oba Bashir Shotonwa, the Sekumade of Ipakodo, the representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Ikorodu branch and many others called for the restructuring of the country in order to correct what they tagged, “imbalances in the polity”.
Many of the speakers also called for State/Community policing for effective security management.
Representatives of the traditional institutions and community associations emphasized the need for the government to accelerate action on the ongoing road reconstruction/rehabilitation across Ikorodu division to lessen the burden on the residents.
They called on Gov. Sanwo – Olu, through their representative, to hasten work on the Agric – lsawo – Ibadan Expressway road to give Ikorodu people an alternative route in and out of the Division.
While commending the government on the reconstruction going on on Itamaga – Ijede, Igbogbo – Igbe, Ojokoro, Oba Sekumade and other roads, residents also complained that the work pace is too slow and charged the government to act faster.
Other major roads that residents urged Hon. Agunbiade to urgently facilitate their repair are Gberigbe/Agura road which was described as a nightmare for residents by the Chairman of the Ikorodu LG CDC, Alhaji Luqman Shonibare. Also, the Agbede – Ita Oluwo, Ikorodu –Itoikin and Ikorodu – Shagamu roads.
Residents of Ikorodu also call for the return of Police and other security agencies to in order to address the current insecurity in the Constituency.
They asserted that the community should assist the government in building the morale of police officers and assure them that they are welcome back to perform their constitutional duties in securing lives and properties.
Otunba Elesho and Alhaji Monzor Olowosago, Publisher of Oriwu Sun newspaper, among others, called on the government to find a lasting solution to the traffic and daily nuisance at the Ikorodu garage roundabout.
President of the NAIDS, Prince Soyiga Ladega, called on the lawmaker to focus and facilitate educational development, bursary and scholarship for students.
He also advocated for extension of palliatives to youths and students who are also affected by the COVID – 19 pandemic and other challenges.
Representatives of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) from the three Councils called for more empowerment programmes and employment opportunities for youths in the Constituency.
They equally requested that palliatives and other intervention schemes should be improved upon and extended to the youths as critical stakeholders in the constituency.
In his submission, Comrade Asoro Abubakri Olatunji, the Chairman, NYCN, Ikorodu West LCDA , called on the government to ensure that residents whose businesses were affected by the recent crisis in the state are compensated.
He added that such gestures should also be extended to the families of those that lost their lives and those injured during the EndSARS protest in the state.
The Iya – Oloja General of Ikorodu Division, Alhaja Taofeekat Allison, and other market representatives called for the curbing of hooliganism and other social vices through community intervention and dislodgement by the government.
Mr Seun Elesho, President of the Ikorodu Heroes, a developmental organization, while joining other in calling for the return of Police and other security agencies to secure the community, also called on the Lagos State Government to ensure that permanent solutions are provided for the incessant traffic gridlock on the Ikorodu – Lagos road.
While calling on the State Government to do more on fixing the inner roads across the councils in Ikorodu Constituency I, residents also called on the Local Government Authorities to ensure that minor damages on roads are promptly attended to.
In particular, stakeholders at the meeting called on the Chairman of Ikorodu LG, Hon. Wasiu Adeshina, to ensure that the damaged portion of the road in front of Banjoko/United along Lowa road is fixed with immediate effect.
Comrade Oluwafemi Fakolade, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Ikorodu branch, charged Hon. Agunbiade to ensure that the state government, as a matter of urgency, demolish defected structures at the Odogunyan Junior Secondary School and also start the reconstruction of another structure to accommodate students that are currently distributed to three locations.
He also called on the representative to ensure that Musade Junior Secondary School, Orikuta, Ikorodu, which is the first public school in that axis, kicks off soon as pledged by the government.
Other issues and requests raised at the 2020 Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting in lkorodu Constituency l are:
-Creation of more councils in lkorodu.
-The need for the government to sustain the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) as advocated by the representative of CAN.
– Regulations of the activities of the commercial motorcycles, popularly called ‘Okada’.
-Urgent need for a solution to the flooding issues in Odogunyan and other parts of the Constituency among others.
Bags of rice and garri were distributed to stakeholders that attended the Constituency Meeting.
