Since his emergence as the lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Hon. Babajimi Adegoke Benson has been able to influence many projects that have been impacting positively on the Ikorodu Division.
Hon. Benson, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Defense, in a brief interview with THE IMPACT, after being honoured by the Igbe community for his assistance in facilitating the rehabilitation of their road, stated the reasons for establishing the newly commissioned radio station, 106.1FM, and agriculture training programme in conjunction with NAFRC which its second batch graduated this week.
Other issues that the lawmaker reacted to during the interview session with Kunle Adelabu, Publisher/Reporter – in – Chief, THE IMPACT Newspaper, were COVID -19 vaccination and challenges faced in setting up the radio station and what constituents should further expect from his representation. Excerpts:
THE IMPACT: What is the experience like taking your first COVID – 19 jab and your message to the people concerning the need for them to do the same?
Hon. Benson: The experience was good. I took it smiling and it didn’t hurt me. It is a good preventive mechanism to guide against the dreaded COVID – 19 virus. It was easy and the queue was short. The frontline workers were efficient. I want to urge everyone who hasn’t taken it to please ensure they go and take it as soon as possible.
THE IMPACT: Just about a week ago, IKD 106.1FM was commissioned by the Governor of the State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, after royal prayer/special appearance by all the Obas in the Division, Sir, what is the reason behind the conception of the station and what do you intend to achieve?
Hon. Benson: 106.1FM was conceived in my first term, I think in 2015. I saw the need for my beloveth constituency to have a voice and went to see the Minister for Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who said that I should go ahead but the license took me about three years to obtain because it is a license that is issued and signed by the President only. I thought it was going to be an easy thing because of my relationship with the Minister. We had bought our equipment as far back as 2017 . We also had to look for a space and kit it to achieve the audio that we need.
At a particular time, rain fell and thunder struck, destroying all our equipment, so we had to start all over again and COVID -19 also caused a delay but we started it before the #EndSARS protest. Since what is worth doing at all is worth doing well, we had to test and retest and train staff to get the right people. We got to a point that NBC (Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation) was also excited because it is the first community station outside the campus because it is rare for people to set up community radio. We had all the backings of all the previous Directors from Mba to Kawu and to the incumbent. They were always encouraging and urging us to start the station soon as possible.
THE IMPACT: Sir, so far, what is your impression about the radio station?
Hon. Benson: It has been so good since we have started out. Ikorodu people have embraced it because it is their radio station. I tried calling in at times but always finding it difficult getting my calls through. I feel happy that it is something that the community has embraced. They have a voice and the narrative can be shifted appropriately because we always get the bad press all the time which doesn’t define us. We are very resourceful, entertaining, brilliant people, when we sneeze; the whole of Lagos should catch a cold. That is the power that we are bringing on board as we speak.
THE IMPACT: What also brought about the Agricultural training for the youths, another initiative of yours which you organised in conjunction with the NAFRC, with two sets graduating after intensive training in Animal and Crop Productions? Is there any mechanism in place to monitor their engagements and developments considering the investment on them?
Hon. Benson: The NAFRC Centre has a pride of place in my heart. It’s a place that has so much capacity and potential for urban farming situated there at Oshodi and you will be amazed at the value – chain that they have in agric. They have the Rabbitry, Poultry, Horticulture, Piggery, Green houses and Ranch. So, Ikorodu Federal Constituency has more than all these and an army of unemployed youths. What we simply did was to go out there and get those youths that we don’t really have an affiliation with. You heard me when I told the Commandant at the graduation that I barely know five out of the graduands, others are people spread across our constituency from Ijede to Imota, Egbin and the rest. As a matter of fact, we got applicants all the way from Alimosho and Epe. Some kings from Epe even called to ask us to accommodate some of their subjects.
Agriculture and ICT are the new oil and the two things that I want to concentrate on. I really want to add value to the unemployed youths in my constituency through agriculture which can take a man from zero to a hero. You don’t need much space for farming as they taught them at the centre. Above all, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture in the State, Ms. Bisola Olusanya, was there at the graduation ceremony and she offered each and every participant a plot of land. We also gave some stipends and the Commandant of the Centre was so impressed with the knowledge, concentration and attendance of the trainees that he also volunteered to give them stipends. They are all in a whatsapp group with us and they have access to their instructor who is disciplined and knowledgeable. We are monitoring ourselves to ensure that they get to the next level in farming.
THE IMPACT: How did you feel when the Igbe community gave you award and also honoured you by renaming the newly constructed Igbe road after you?
Hon. Benson: That honour was too much for me. It’s not something that I wanted or counted on, but the community insisted that I must take it. I am the one that should be showing gratitude to them for electing me to make laws and developments into the constituency. So, I am just doing my job but if they insist that I should be honoured and they don’t want to back out, so be it. I am indeed very happy with them because they did a lot of things that melted my heart. I saw the self – help project they started before because they actually started the project and it is that passion and selflessness that they exhibited that made me keyed into it by returning to Abuja and met with a couple of agencies and I was able to facilitate the road’s completion.
THE IMPACT: Lastly Sir, after facilitating the construction of over 20 schools, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Sports Centre, roads among many other things, what should your constituents be expecting from you next?
Hon. Benson: They should expect more services and representation. I always say that success is a collection of relationships, so if those relationships are still there, we would still be able to influence a lot more into the constituency. More roads, transformers, schools, sports centres, employment are still coming and by the end of the year, we would have been able to put smiles on the faces of more people in tandem with our slogan, iCare.
