Kunle Adelabu
-Council chairmen submit documents to back claims
In an attempt to finally resolve some boundary issues within the Ikorodu Division, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the division has set up a seven – man committee headed by the Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, the Lagos East APC Vice-Chairman and former Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, to handle the task.
The committee, which was inaugurated two weeks ago, had its inaugural meeting with the Council chairmen on Thursday, December 17, 2020, and also met on Thursday, December 24 at the Solomade home of the former Deputy Governor of Lagos and the apex political leader in Ikorodu, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, where necessary documents were submitted by the Chairmen, to back their respective claims.
The political leaders had in November charged the three council chairmen that are parties to the boundary disputes to maintain the status quo following an attack on some senior political officials of the Ikorodu LG when they went to Igbodu (one of the areas affected by the boundary disputes) on official assignment.
Other members of the committee are Alhaji (Prince) Jimoh Ogunmuyiwa, former Chairman of Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area representing the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Mr Ajetunmobi representing Ijede LCDA and Arch. Taiwo Kara, former member of the Governing Council, Lagos State Polytechnic, representing Ikorodu West LCDA.
Mr Lasisi F.O, former Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State and Chairman, Ikorodu Division Resources Development Group (IDRDG) representing Imota, Dr (Otunba) Saheed Ibikunle, Permanent Member, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) representing Ikorodu North LCDA, and Alhaji Badru Enifeni, the Secretary to the APC apex body representing Ikorodu LG on the boundary committee.
THE IMPACT also gathered that the committee at the inaugural meeting last week, aside resolving to invite the Council Chairmen to make necessary presentations at the meeting yesterday, it also invited all the serving and elected Federal and state lawmakers, Commissioners and other serving officials.
Also, former Federal and State lawmakers, Commissioners and others were equally invited to make inputs.
Sources at the yesterday’s meeting said that necessary papers were presented by all the council Chairmen, especially the three parties to the boundary disputes – Hon. Wasiu Adeshina (Ikorodu LG), Builder Sesan Daini (Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA) and Hon. Fathiu Salisu, (Ijede LCDA).
It was further gathered that the intention of the committee is to achieve amicable resolution to all the boundary issues before the commencement of the National Boundary Commission next year in preparation for the proposed National Census.
Source at the meeting also informed our reporter that two of the affected Council Chairmen in the boundary disputes fully cooperated with the committee, while a particular one was not that cooperating.
It was also gathered that the said Chairman also stated that whatever resolution taking without acknowledging his Council’s ownership and administrative control over certain areas may cause communal crisis.
THE IMPACT gathered that the position of the said Chairman jolted many members of the committee and other leaders that were in attendance.
Our reporter gathered that among the documents submitted by the council Chairmen included: Ward delineation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ward delineation by the Lagos State Independent Election Commission (LASIEC), document signed by political, traditional and other leaders for the creation of the LCDAs and maps from the State Surveyor – General’s office showing their respective areas.
However, all the maps said to have been sourced by the Chairmen from the Surveyor – General’s office and presented to the committee, were said to be different and contradictory.
Genesis of the Boundary Crisis
The boundary issue between Ikorodu Local Government, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and Ijede LCDA, has been on going for a while and almost degenerated at some points.
It has also defied all interventions by the Lagos State House of Assembly, Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Surveyor – General office and other Council Chairmen in division, especially Hon. Wasiu Agoro (Imota LCDA) and Hon. Adeola Banjo (Ikorodu North LCDA) whom we gathered had intervened.
The boundary issue started sometime in December 2017, when staff members of the Ijede LCDA went out on revenue drive and were allegedly attacked by some hoodlums led by a member of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) whom we gathered called himself the Chief Security Officer of Ewu – Owa, one of the areas affected by the boundary disputes between Ikorodu LG and Ijede LCDA.
The matter was said to have been reported at the Ijede Police Station and arrests were consequently made before the intervention of the then Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs.
It was also alleged that the issue almost got degenerated as some thugs came to an area where officials of two of the affected councils were meeting on the disputed land looking for the Chairman of Ijede LCDA, Hon. Fathiu who was said to have been taken away from the scene by the police.
It was while this was going on that the Chairman of the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Builder Sesan Daini, reportedly wrote the state government alleging that Ikorodu LG was intruding on her land and requested that the government should intervene.
It would also be recalled that the Secretary to the Ikorodu LG, Alhaji Lateef Afinni, and other officials of the mother council were attacked on Wednesday, November 25, 2020, in connection with the boundary dispute.
While we gathered that other officials escaped, Hon. Afinni was not that lucky as the assailants reportedly battered him and had to spend some days receiving treatment at an hospital in Ikorodu.
