Kunle Adelabu
Rep. Babajimi Benson, representative of the Ikorodu (sitting left) listening to one of the Ori – Okuta stakeholders during the ‘Listening Tour’ initiated by iCare Foundation. With Rep. Benson are community and political leaders in Ikorodu West LCDA.
As part of his attempts to make his campaign for the third term issue – based and about the electorate, Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson has embarked on what he termed, ‘Listening Tour’ to the six Council Areas within his constituency.
The tour, which commenced on Sunday, October 23, 2022, with visits to Ajaguro/Ori Okuta in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area and Erunwen in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, is expected to move to other parts of his constituency in the coming days.
While the meeting at Ori-Okuta took place at an open space in the area, it was the Keyoola Descendants Family Hall that hosted the ‘Listening Tour’ in Erunwen community where Rep. Benson, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Defense, announced to the jubilant residents that construction wworks would commence on the Erunwen road in November this year.
According to Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola, the Director – General, iCare Foundation, the operational group of the two – term federal lawmaker, while explaining the concept of the tour, he said that the idea is to hear the needs of the constituents, especially in areas within the representative’s constituency where there are still challenges.
“We are here to begin talking with our people before going out on campaign. This will allow us to know your challenges and make such our focus during the campaign. That is why we are here on ‘listening tour”, the iCare DG said.
“Rep. Benson wants to know your challenges and agree with you as a community on what should be done, instead of just deciding a project for you.
“There are some issues that we may not be able to solve, but such will be related to the appropriate authorities at federal, state and council level for action”, Mayor Sanwoola added.
Rep. Babajimi Benson, also speaking, thanked residents of Ori-Okuta for their support, for re-electing him and for supporting his party, while also describing the community as a melting – point for cultures in Ikorodu.
“Ori Okuta is a melting – point for Nigeria. I have seen Huasas, Igbos and other tribes relating very well together”, he said.
“I have listened to your issues and I will relate with other political offices where need be on some of the issues raised.
“I assure that your concerns on roads will receive positive attention”, Rep. Benson said.
“You elected me to speak and represent you and this ‘listening tour’ is part of the representation”, the lawmaker added.
He charged residents of the community to vote and support all his party’s (APC) candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
Speaking earlier, Mr Tunde Esewesa, Chairman, Ori – Okuta Residents Community Development Association, said that the community is a lovely place and pleaded with Rep. Benson to replicate his quality representation in their place.
“We have seen what you have been doing in other parts of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency and we really appreciate your quality representation”, the Chairman of the community association said.
“We have seen what you have been able to do at Eyita which was very sudden. However, it would be great if such a road is linked with Oriokuta roads.
“We thank God for what he has been using you to achieve in the entire Ikorodu”.
Also, David Ogu Echeneni, Secretary, Ori-Okuta Concerned Residents, who also commended the lawmaker for always remembering his constituency, said that the major problem confronting the community is the state of their road which he said has claimed many lives.
“Our major problem all along has been the road in our area, the worst part of it is that it has been claiming lives”, he said.
“The last one was a child that fell off an Okada and a tipper ran him over, a situation which threw the entire community into mourning”, he said soberly while recalling the ugly incident.
“This is a road that can link Shagamu when constructed”, he added.
Issues Raised At Ori Okuta Community:
Meanwhile, other stakeholders that spoke at the parley commended the initiative. Other issues raised by stakeholders that also spoke at the parley in Ori – Okuta were: Health Centre, completion of the only primary school in the area, fast-tracking of Agric/Owutu/Ishawo road project and building of secondary school in the community.
Issues Presented To Rep. Benson At Erunwen:
Community chieftains, stakeholders and other residents that spoke at the town hall meeting commended Rep. Benson for his representation and charged him to remember their community too for development the same way he has touched other parts of Ikorodu.
The major issue presented to him was the need to facilitate the construction of the Erunwen main road from Alabukun Petrol Station/Obafemi Awolowo Way junction down to Laaga.
Other issues presented to the lawmaker included: request for establishment of a secondary school to prevent children and wards in the community from going to far places to attend secondary school after graduating from t primary school within the community as well as provision of transformers for some areas in Erunwen.
