Kunle Adelabu
The Chief Imam of Oriwu Central Mosque, Sheikh Yahya Olorunosebi Oshoala (As – Samadani) has described the representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Defense, Rep. Babajimi Benson, as a God’s sent savior of his people.
The Muslim leader, who spoke with journalists during the inspection of the construction of five connecting roads around Sabo market and Shamsideen facilitated by the representative of Rep. Benson, said that the two – term representatives has done well in terms of facilitating developmental projects that are impacting on his constituents.
Sheikh Oshoala said that residents of the area and students attending the two primary and secondary schools in the area, have not been having it easy in terms of access over the years but that the intervention of the lawmaker has now made the roads motorrable.
“I am very delighted about Hon. Jimi Benson facilitating the road that we are celebrating today. He is a second to none representative of Ikorodu in government since 1999”, Sheikh Oshoala said.
“We want to congratulate him for being so guided by God and for following the guidance of Allah and for listening to the cries of the people.
“lf not for him, we will have nothing to celebrate about this road. We are very delighted. We have Jamaitul Islamiyyah Primary school which used to be the biggest in terms of population before it was broken into parts. It was founded in 1955. There was also Aworo Primary School which was founded around this area around 1979 before it was canceled.
“There is also Shams – el – Deen Grammar School along the road but we have not been having easy access to these schools. The students, teachers and government officials have not been having easy access either.
He also said that hundreds of Muslim faithful that usually attend eid prayers at the Oriwu Central Mosque prayer ground located in the area twice in a year, always face difficulties in moving in and out of the area, especially during raining season.
“Also, the Oriwu Central Mosque eid prayer ground, where half of muslims in Ikorodu usually observe their eid prayers twice a year, has always been horrible, especially when there is rain. But thank God that there is succour now courtesy of our God’s sent savior (pointing to Hon. Babajimi Benson)”, Sheikh Oshola said.
“He has saved us from all that we have been experiencing here that are not palatable".
Sheikh Oshoala, who is of opinion that Itunmaja area of Ikorodu is the first settlement in the ancient town before developments moved to other parts of the town, thanked Hon. Benson for capturing the area in his developmental agenda.
While frowning and alleging that the area is not being treated the way it is supposed to, the Chief Imam of Oriwu Central Mosque also said that Rep. Benson has started changing the narrative.
“Everything in Ikorodu started here. The first road that led into Ikorodu started here which is this Ona Orere. This is the first settlement in Ikorodu but they have always treated us last until the emergence of this small boy (Hon. Benson). I call him a small boy because he is going to live and attain old age and is going to achieve whatever that he wishes to achieve. Almighty Allah will grant him all that he desires”, he said.
He charged residents of the area to take charge of the road upon completion and ensure its maintenance and not rely on the local government to do that for them, while also adding that Muslim community in the area will also contribute their quota in that respect.
“I will implore everybody in this area not to wait for the local government for the maintenance of this road. Let everybody see these road as their own property and take care of it”, the religious leader charged.
“As the owners of the eid (Muslim prayer ground), we will not relent. We too shall contribute to the maintenance of the road”, he added.
“We shall form a committee on maintenance of the road and we will hand it over when we have the government (local government) that is ready to do it.
“We learnt that there will be streetlights to take care of the security.
“I will call the members of the CDAs in this area to chart a way of ensuring the security and maintenance of this road”, Sheikh Oshoala further said.
