Kunle Adelabu
Eminent sons and daughters of Ikorodu have lent their voices to the call for the renaming of the Ibeshe road after the late Asiwaju of Ikorodu Kingdom and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Babatunde Olusola Benson, SAN, KJW.
Their resolve was based on the efforts and contributions of the late legal icon and community builder, to the development of the lkorodu division.
Earlier, some residents, including Comrade Japheth Odesanya, a former Secretary to the Ikorodu Local Government and publisher of the community news medium, Factor newsmagazine, had called for the renaming of the road, which was constructed by the administration of the former governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, after late Benson.
It was would be recalled that Chief Benson led a protest and organised press conference regarding the terrible state of the lbeshe road, a situation which many believed forced the state government to embark on the reconstruction of the road.
Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, a former Minister of Works, raising the issue on the Ikorodu – Oga WhatsApp platform on Tuesday (yesterday), called on the Ikorodu Local Government to rename the road after Chief Benson.
“I will suggest to the Ikorodu Local Government Chairman to change Ibeshe road to Asiwaju Babatunde Benson road in his honour”, Senator. Ogunlewe said.
“He was instrumental to the construction of the road”.
Other eminent individuals that responded to the call by the former Senator that represented the Lagos East Senatorial District between 1999 and 2003, including Otunba Ayodele Elesho, welcomed the idea and charged the council to act on it in honour of the late legal luminary.
Otunba Elesho, the Agbaakin of Ikorodu Kingdom and a former Commissioner for Information in the state, supporting the call for the posthumous honor, charged the Ikorodu – Oga Develoment Association (IKODASS) to take charge and ensure that the proposal becomes a reality.
“I agree totally with the suggestion by Otunba Adeseye Ogunlewe”, Otunba Elesho said.
“I, therefore, urge the leadership of IKODASS to make a formal presentation to the Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government over this all – important issue.
“Asiwaju Babatunde Olusola Benson, SAN, deserved the posthumous honour”, he added.
