Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-Governor gets CDAs’ re – election support
The maiden Community Day Celebrations introduced into the annual Igbogbo Day Celebrations this year, was not all about merriment, but also an opportunity for the community developers to further call for developments in the ancient town as project requests were presented to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu.
The requests from the over 200 Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) were presented through the Community Development Committee of the Council to the Special Adviser to the Governor, on Community Affairs, Hon. Babatunde Jimih Adewale who was the special guest of honour at the occasion held at the Mikson Onas Hall, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Way, Igbogbo on Friday, November 25, 2022.
Copies of the document were also presented to the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, lgbogbo/Bayeku LCDA Executive and Legislative arms.
Pastor Abayomi Adelakun, CDC Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA presenting the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA’s CDAs/CDC’s requests to Hon. Babatunde Jimoh Adewale, Special Adviser on Community for Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the Community Day which was part of the activities commemorating the 2022 Igbogbo Day Celebrations.
At the event, Buider Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA; CSP Aderemi Balogun, DPO, Ikorodu Divisional Police headquarters; Mr Oludare Igbasan, Commandant, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA JTF; Mr Sikirulahi Adewale, 2nd CDC Chairman, Igbogbo.Bayeku LCDA (posthumous); Alhaji Isa Gbadamosi, former CDC Chairman and Elder Mudashiru Olowu, immediate past CDC Chairman were honoured Community Excellence awards.
Also, Hon. Iyabo Salisu and Alhaji Lateef Akinborode among others were presented with Certificate of recognition for their contributions to the community development.
In the CDA category, Esteem Estate, Hilltop, Owode Rabata, Mayor Otugbuwa, Aseyege Estate and Oluwanishoa CDAs among others were recognized as outstanding associations.
Hon. Babatunde Jimoh Adewale Special Adviser on Community Affairs (2nd right) presenting the Community Excellence award to Builder Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA represented by Mr Ade Bolowotan, Chief of Staff to the Chief of Staff. With them, Pastor Adelakun (right) and another guest (eft)
Hon. Babatunde Jimih Adewale, Special Adviser on Community, speaking, said that the governor of the state has always identified with the CDAs, adding that Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA has government presence and will continue to enjoy developmental projects.
He commended the CDAs in Igbogbo for their activities and involvement in the community development activities.
“I am so delighted to be here today. Mr Governor always identifies with the CDAs and the CDC Chairman can testify to that because there are lots of activities to prove that”, he said.
“In Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, we have over 200 CDAs which is the highest in the state and anytime that Kabiyesi is talking at the Council of Obas meeting at the state, he always emphasise the CDAs, because he knows that they are seriously contributing to the development of the community.
“Kabiyesi actually wanted me here to discuss with his CDAs, but when I got here, I discovered that there is nothing to say again because they are already educating and teaching themselves what they are supposed to be doing. You actually know the nittyy – gritty of the CDA Constitution.
“Your CDC Chairman has also been consistent at our programmes and always talks about your CDAs.
“Mr Governor said that I should thank you all for the cooperation he has been enjoying for over three years. Within the years, Mr governor has done so much for the Igbogbo side and he asked me to tell you that you will still enjoy more before the end of this administration”, he reported.
The Special Adviser also used the occasion to solicit for the support of the community people in voting Mr Governor back to office in the 2023 general elections.
He said that ongoing projects in Igbogbo will be completed before the governor first conclude his first term.
“If somebody is doing well, we must appreciate him and in this wise, we still want your cooperation and votes to return the governor for the second term. This election is quite different from others and everybody knows that our governor has been trying despite all odds”, he appealed.
“We know that you are independent and we cannot force you to do whatever that we want, but we just have to tell you and appeal to you.
“Mr Governor asked me to tell you that all the ongoing projects will be completed before the administration ends and many others will be started when he returns for the second term and you will be enjoying more”.
He charged them to continue to work together as an association and contribute to the development of Igbogbo.
“Finally, I want you to continue to cooperate amongst yourselves. We cannot force ourselves but can teach ourselves how to relate with our people like you have done here today, which will go a long way in convincing them to voluntarily join and contribute to the CDA”, he charged.
“This type of gathering should be organize at least twice a year and not annually as you have said”.
Pastor Abayomi Adelakun, CDC Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, speaking, commended the governor for the impacts of his administration on the state and Igbogbo in particular, while also requesting for more government presence.
On behalf of the over 200 CDAs and CDC in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, he presented requests mainly on roads that are needing the state government’s attention to the Special Adviser for the Governor.
“Our requests gathered across the CDAs are so numerous but they are compiled in this report that I will be presenting to you today. Two copies will be presented to you for onward transmission to the Mr Sellabe (Govenor Babajide Sanwo – Olu)”, he said.
“We know that the Governor has done a lot of roads in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, so also is Hon. Babajimi Benson and the Distinguished Senator is also contributing, but Sir, we still need lots of roads, particularly like Offin/Oreta. This is a road that we want our governor to help us with.
“Thank God that work has already started on the Awolowo Road to link up to Bayeku. We want more on this road. We want it to get to Bayeku and not stop at the Maternity where it is been proposed to stop for now.
“Also in Ibeshe area, we need a lot of channelization. In Elepe area where there are two roads which are now very difficult to pass. Please sir, we want you to help us look into this.
“In this document, we have everything summarized zone by zone for transmission to Mr Governor”, he said.
Declaring the support of the entire CDAs for Gov. Sanwo – Olu, Pastor Adelakun said:
“In your speech, you requested that we should do everything that is humanly possible to return Mr Governor for the second term, kindly tell him that the over 200 CDAs in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA are solidly behind him”, Pastor Adelakun assured the governor.
“I want to assure you Sir, that come rain or sun, our votes are going to be more than that of Alimosho or any other place where they said that they have more population. Igbogbo and Ikorodu generally is expanding day – in and day – out, but in those places, they don’t have room for further expansion”, he added.
“Initially, our polling booths used to be 50, but now, it has been increased to about 133, meaning that we are going to have more of our people voting. What we used to do in the past was to arrange vehicles to take them to voting point but now, they just have to walk little distance to cast their votes.
His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa (Oba) Barr. Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, in his remarks, thanked the CDA/CDC members for turning out in large number for the event, stating that the community is being administered in conjunction with them.
Mr N.T Andus, Chairman, Igbogbo Day Planning Committee, thanked CDA/CDC members for their cooperation and support and for responding positively to the clarion call by the Kabiyesi.
He assured that the Community Day will be sustained as part of the events marking Igbogbo Day.
Alhaji Sulaimon Ayokunle, Treasurer, Planning Committee, also speaking, re-emphasised the committee and Kabiyesi’s appreciation to the CDAs.
“We know the importance of CDAs in the community development, and we are aware of your contributions to Igbogbo”, he said.
“The Kabiyesi appreciate all of you and your contributions will not go unrecognized and that is why Kabiyesi felt that having the 34th Igbogbo Day without the Community Day will not be complete and that is what led to the call”.
Chairman, 2022 Igbogbo Day Sub – Committee on Community Day, Alhaji Fatai Adewale Gbadamosi, speaking on the “The Roles of CDAs in Promoting Government’s Programmes and Policies, Creating Synergies between Government and the Grassroots: A Case Study of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA”, said that the Lagos State and Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA Governments are operating in line with the global practices that place community and grassroots people at the centre of development.
He said that the partnership between the state and the council and the people through various communities associations, has helped greatly in engendering social, economic and political developments in various parts of the state.
He emphasized that the cooperation between the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and the CDAs have been very productive.
“Therefore, it needs to be stressed that the role of Community Development Associations (CDAs) in community development is quite crucial. CDA members are an integral part of their various communities. This puts them in an advantageous position in terms of understanding the problem or developmental challenges in their domains”, he said.
“In IBLCDA, the government’s partnership with CDAs has become a veritable vehicle for socio-economic Development and communal integration. The fact that no development can take place in any society without peace and harmony further underscores the need for this virile partnership with the CDAs, since they are actually closer to the various communities than elected and non-elected government officials.
“Currently, in IBLCDA, conscious efforts are being made by the appropriate government authority to encourage more communal spirit as it is being exemplified by the current administration.
“Before now, Lagos only boasted of 2,500 CDAs, but this has since increased to 3,935. Among these, we have over 300 CDA’s in IBLCDA alone representing about 11.1 percent,which indicate the prime position IBLCDA occupies in Lagos State.
“This is largely due to the support being given the various CDAs by government. Not only does the government regulate the CDAs, but it also encourages them to supervise government projects and infrastructure within their neighborhood”, he said.
While stating that various communities also embark on execution of projects in support of the various government’s efforts, Alhaji Gbadamosi commended the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo and the Planning Day Committee for initiating the Community Day this year as part of the annual celebrations.
“Most of these communities have also embarked on many self-help projects ranging from installation of streetlights, transformers, the construction of drainages and health centers construction as a way of complementing the efforts of both State and Local Governments to engender growth and development”, he said.
“On a yearly basis, in line with the United Nations Initiative, the state government usually sets aside a day as Community Day to recognize the developmental contributions of the various CDAs in the state, which is consistent with the wisdom and aspiration of the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom in making this community day a yearly event going forward.
“At this year’s event, the Community Development Day Sub-Committee Chairman urged community leaders to monitor the government projects in their various communities in order to make Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA a 21st Century Economy”, he charged.
