Kunle Adelabu
Pa Samuel Falabake Ogbe, the head of the Odujumo – Araba family of Ikorodu and former Commissioner 2 in the Local Government Service Commission, is dead.
The late Pa Ogbe was also the head of the Church of the Lord Aladura in Ipakodo – Ebute.
The senior legal practitioner, who died on Saturday (yesterday) at the General Hospital, Ikorodu, was 88 years.
He was an active community and students’ activist in his days.
As one of the students’ leaders, late Pa Ogbe and others were instrumental to the construction of Ikorodu Town hall.
In an interview with this reporter about 12 years ago, Pa Ogbe explained what led to the building of the hall and developmental phases in Ikorodu.
“The challenge of water disaster brought about the intensification of energy for the Ikorodu road. No sooner than the road was opened in 1953 that water transport crashed.
“Ikorodu Students’ Association body was not left out in the developmental process. Our body decided to change the perception of Ikorodu people in Lagos, who always entertained fear in coming home. So, we decided to host some returning students from abroad, eight of them which included Dr Omotayo Seriki, Dr Bolaji Sanni Ajenifuja, Dr Oladele Odulate, Miss Bolanle Sonubi (first nursing sister in Ikorodu), Mr Fasasi Sanni, Late Adebayo Ogunsanya and Late Olayinka Alokolaro.
“On the reception day held at the present site where we now have the Exclusive Club, Oba S.O. Ladega, sons and daughters of Ikorodu and in fact, everybody that matters in Ikorodu was present. When Justice Adesanya was about to make the toast, suddenly, there was a big storm and eventually the rain fell and what promised to be a remarkable and eventful occasion, was stopped.
“The students’ body exco, which included myself, R.O. Solaja, Sikiru Sanusi, Haruna Ogunsanya and others, converged on the Magistrate Court (now Ikorodu High Court, Ita – Eewa) where we did appraisal of the sad event and concluded that there is need for Ikorodu Town hall.
“We initially wanted the present site of Ita – Elewa for the Town hall, but the Planning Officer, Mr Burke and his Assistant, Chief Onafowokan, refused and asked us to use the present site of Jubilee Estate, along Shagamu road, which we rejected since it will further discourage those that we are trying to bring home.
