Kunle Adelabu
After groaning under the hardships of bad roads and erosion for several decades, residents ofDosunmu Alashe/Alhaji Ademoye/Igbemitayo/Olabinjo Streets behind the Ikorodu Police Barracks in Ijomu in Ikorodu Local Government, on Saturday (yesterday), commended the the lawmaker representing the Ikorodu Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Babajimi Benson,for considering their roads for rehabilitation.
The well loved and performing lawmaker arrived at the communities to a rousing welcome by the hundreds of residents who are appreciative of his gesture which is coming after many decades of the collapse of their roads.
After a brief meeting with chieftains of the Community Development Areas (CDAs) and other stakeholders of the benefitting communities, Hon. Benson embarked on a tour of the roads as excavators began work.
There were commendations and praises for the representative during the tour which had hundredsof residents.
Alhaji Adewale Musliu Sulaimon, popularly called, ‘Ola4’, a community leader and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a resident of Alhaji Ademoye Street in Ijomu, Ikorodu, speaking with THE IMPACT, described Hon. Benson as a man of the people who is doing everything to develop Ikorodu.
“He is a man of the people. He has told us that he’s here to serve Ikorodu people and develop Ikorodu to a greater height, so, we are very grateful to Jimi Benson”, Alhaji Sulaimon said.
The political leader said that the only government presence in the area was the drainage system constructed many decades ago by the Alhaji Lateef Jakande administration.
“In fact, since the expiration of the administration of late Alhaji Lateef Jakande who did the drainage system for us, no government has done anything in this area. But we thank God that this development is coming in our own lifetime.
“We are very appreciative and delighted. In fact, you can ride horse freely inside me, because this tremendous work would elevate this area which is a major link road”.
He said that the road, when completed, will reduce traffic on Ireshe road and create another connecting road for motorists.
“You can easily connect it when there is traffic on Ireshe/Sheriff/Barracks road and it will link you to the post office or Ebute/Igbogbo road depending on your route”, he said.
“It will reduce the traffic on Ireshe road drastically”, he said.
The Chief Imam of Ikorodu Central Mosque and Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, Alhaji Sefiudeen Ademoritan Olowo-Oribi, who is also a resident of one of the benefitting communities, also speaking with our reporter, said that the lawmaker has shown that he is a promise keeper with the commencement of the rehabilitation of the roads.
“We have seen many people from the state and local governments coming to take measurements of the road over the last ten years and yet, nothing has been done to rehabilitate it”, the Chief Imam said.
“We have seen that Hon. Jimi Benson is a representative with conscience and he does keep promises.
“He said about two months ago that he is going to facilitate the rehabilitation of the road and here he is today flagging it off, unlike others that have been coming and not fulfilling their promises.
“We are very happy to welcome him today. We pray that God will continue to elevate and guide him”, the Islamic cleric prayed.
Mr Wasiu Banwo, a resident of Dosumu Alashe, also commended the lawmaker for returning to fulfill his pledge to the people.
“We thank God for making Hon. Benson to come back and fulfill his promise, regarding the rehabilitation of this road because many have promised us without fulfilling their promises”, he said.
“When the information came that Hon. Jimi Benson will be rehabilitating the road, we taught it is one of those lies told by other in the past but we thank God that what we thought to be lie is turning out to be true today.
“They have started the road and we thank him for commencing the rehabilitation of our road and we hope that he will be considered for the position of a governor whenever it is Ikorodu’s turn to produce an occupant of the position.
“There is nothing that we have asked of him that he has not delivered on”.
Mr Quadri Bello, a resident of Olabinjo Street, who lamented over the hardships he has faced since moving into his house in the area over 20 years ago due to the bad condition of the road, also commended Rep. Benson for the gesture.
“Look at how erosion has completely damaged the road to my house. Hon. Jimi Benson coming today to commence this road is a good thing”, he said.
“The rehabilitation will improve the living conditions of our people.
“I have built my house here for more than 20 years but I have not been able to drive into my house due to the state of the road as I always park my car at Obafemi Taiwo street.
“I am really happy for Hon. Benson and really thank him for coming to our rescue and other areas in Ikorodu”.
Mr Akewushola Adeyemi, a resident of Alashe Street, while also speaking with our reporter, commended the lawmaker.
“We really appreciate the efforts of our representative, Hon. Babajimi Benson, for coming to our aid in rehabilitating this road which has been abandoned for many years.
“We are truly appreciative of his representation”.
Meanwhile, Engr. Mohammed Odaji, the representative of JRB Construction Company, the Contractor handling the project, speaking with THE IMPACT, said that the construction of the road should be completed in three months barring any disturbance by rain.
He said that the project will include the construction of drainage and laying of asphalt and assured that work, which has started on Saturday (yesterday), will progress steadily.
“We are going to do the drainage and also complete the road to asphalt level. As you have seen, the excavator has started work and we are not stopping.
He appealed for maximum cooperation from the residents in order successful complete the work within the schedule time.
“You can see that just a few of them (residents) are complaining whom we are listening to. I can tell you that about 90% of them are really cooperative and we hope that the community will be able to manage the remaining uncooperative 10%”, he said.
“I want to plead that the residents should please show us love because there is no way we can achieve good work without cooperation from them. We can only achieve good result within a proper time if we get their cooperation”, he appealed.
Speaking with Mr Shobo, Rep Benson’s Site Manager, he said that the lawmaker will be powering the roads after construction with solar lights.
