Kunle Adelabu
-Say efforts are in place to reconstitute IDEA
The leadership of the Igbogbo Development Association (IDEA), has assured the residents of the community, especially the youths, that the community leaders are not resting but working towards ensuring that their demands on government, are attained.
Engr. Jelili Oduntan, General Secretary, IDEA, who spoke at the weekend, said that the leadership has been working with the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, and the Adeboruwa in – Council, on state of roads and other facilities in lgbogbo.
The IDEA Secretary commended the Igbogbo Youth Coalition (IYC), for initiating a press conference to call the attention of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, to the affected roads and facilities, for immediate intervention.
He said that Adeboruwa had summoned a meeting with the officials of HiTech, the construction company handling the construction of the Igbogbo/Bola Ahmed Tinubu road.
“I want to commend the Igbogbo Youth Coalition for this initiative. It is an important one and we appreciate the way and manner that they organized themselves”, he said.
“We are in liaison with the Oba – in – Council and other associations, to move Igbogbo forward. We are not keeping quiet on the issue of structural stagnation that we are experiencing now in Igbogbo. We joined Kabiyesi in a meeting with the HiTech Managing Director, General Manager and its Engineers, where we let them know how residents are feeling.
“The Kabiyesi invited them to the palace and we expressed our dissatisfaction over the stagnant state of the Ahmed Bola Tinubu road. The construction of the Igbogbo/Bayeku road is also going at a snail speed, and Oreta/Offin road is not getting any attention”, Engr. Oduntan said.
While thanking Rep. Babajimi Benson, the representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency, for his intervention on road constructions and rehabilitations, especially in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Engr. Oduntan called on the state government to be alive to its responsibilities.
“We have to thank Hon. Babajimi Benson for his intervention which helped the APC in the last election. We give kudos to him”.
“We are appealing to the state government over the roads. Today’s press conference is very significant and we will keep appealing to those in government”, he said.
Engr. Oduntan also revealed that the founder of the KICC, Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo, who has scheduled a crusade in Igbogbo later this year, has also intervened on the Igbogbo stadium and the Bola Tinubu road.
“The Founder of the KICC, Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo, told the Kabiyesi and the Adeboruwa – in – Council, when he visited on Friday in preparation towards his Church’s crusade in November, that he had visited the Igbogbo Stadium and that after seeing the state of the stadium, he went to the Governor who assured him that the stadium will be completed before September this year”, Engr. Oduntan revealed.
“He emphasized on the state of roads in Igbogbo, which the governor also assured him that they are looking into.
“I can assure you that we are doing so many things and very soon, they will materialized”, he assured.
Reacting to the issue of IDEA leadership overstaying their tenure in office as raised by the IYC members, Engr. Oduntan explained that the executives are still in office to see to the logical conclusion of some important things which cannot be abandoned.
He said that this year’s Igbogbo Day will hold on the newly acquired land for the proposed Igbogbo town hall.
“Truly, the current IDEA executive’s tenure has lapsed, but there are certain things that the group is doing and trying to see to its conclusion before they quit. If they leave at this stage, it will be as if we are going back on the progress and achievements that we have made so far”, he said.
“On the issue of the Igbogbo Town Hall, we can boast that we have gotten three acres of land and some of you that are close to us can attest to that. Before we could get that land, it was indeed sleepless nights and appeals to families and the company that acquired the said land”, he revealed.
“I can assure you that the next Igbogbo Day will hold on the land acquired for the town hall”.
Also speaking, Mr Babatunde Afuwape, IDEA chieftain, commended the youths whom he described as the future of Igbogbo.
He also assured that efforts are ongoing to address many of their concerns.
“I am very delighted to be in your midst and what this tells me is that we have hope in lgbogbo, and you are our hope. This move is a genuine move and nobody can stop you from demanding your rights. You have done the right thing and we are really in your support”, he said.
“The tenure of current IDEA executives, has lapsed and efforts are being made to reconstitute the body. You may not know what we are doing, but some of you that are in IDEA are aware that we are actually doing a lot of work that may not be visible to some of you.
“Aside our efforts over the Bola Ahmed Tinubu road which we met with HiTech about, there were also other efforts about Ogunlewe and Selewu roads, where we had the commitment of Hon. Jimi Benson.
“Kabiyesi and others also visited the governor some time ago over the Bola Ahmed road and efforts are still ongoing to see to its completion. However, the ongoing construction is very slow. We will keep working with the government and other stakeholders to bring development to Igbogbo”, he said.
