Kunle Adelabu
The Ikorodu Heroes (I – Heroes), a body of professionals and eminent Ikorodu sons, have resolved to approach the court to seek intervention to compel the six council chairman in Ikorodu Division to release details of their financial activities in the last four years.
I – Heroes had about three weeks ago reminded the Chairmen of Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Wasiu Adeshina; Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Adeola Banjo; Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. Jumoke Jimbo – Ademehin; Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Builder Sesan Daini; Imota LCDA, Hon. Wasiu Agoro and Ijede LCDA, Hon. Fathiu Salisu, about their request for the release of the details of their incomes and expenditures in the last four years.
The group wants details of allocations from the federation account that are on a monthly basis shared among the federal, state and local governments, as well as allocation from state government and that of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and how the monies have been expended.
Despite the group’s threat to invoke the provision of the Freedom of Information Act to compel the councils to do its bidding, there has not been any response from the council chairmen.
Speaking with THE IMPACT after the group’s Annual General Meeting held in Ikorodu on Saturday, April 4, 2021, the club’s President, Mr Seun Elesho, said that they would be approaching the court to put the FOI Act to test on the matter.
He also briefed our reporter on their resolve on issues affecting Ikorodu.
“We discussed the non – response of the LG/LCDAs to our letter and we resolved to go to court of Law to test the freedom of Information law”.
He also commended the Lagos State Government on the various ongoing projects across the division and called for quick completion of the projects before the commencement of the raining season.
“We also appreciated the state government for the various road construction going on within Ikorodu division and we pray all will be fast tracked even as the rain is approaching.
“We spoke on traffic congestion within the division which is largely as a result none availability of tax/maruwa and okada parks as they have all taken to the roads as their pick up and drop points.
“This has even been made worse by the activities of the purported LG officers who put on different colours of reflective jackets and harass people on the road”.
The group, however, welcomed the plan to remodel the Ikorodu garage roundabout to deal with the perennial traffic in that axis but urged the government to preserve the statue of Oga, the founder of Ikorodu, placed at the roundabout.
“While we welcome the efforts of the Ministry of Transport at reducing the congestion at the Ikorodu roundabout, as indigenous people, we ask that the statue of Oga should be placed in a conspicuous place where it will be possible for people to learn about the story behind the statue”, he said.
