Kunle Adelabu
-As youths seek for cabinet position
Residents of Igbogbo in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), are seeking for, at least, a slot from the three nominations for the cabinet positions ceded to Ikorodu Division area of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, by the Governor of the State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, .
According to the concerned residents, they are demanding justice, equity and recognition of the roles and contributions played by the community in the last elections.
It would be recalled that reactions trailed the report by THE IMPACT last week, that the apex leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the division, have sent names of the former Commissioners for Agriculture and Transportation, Ms. Abisola Olusanya and Dr Frederick Oladeinde, respectively, to the governor, alongside Dr Nurudeen Agbaje, a civil servant and former aspirant for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat in Lagos State House of Assembly, as the third nominee.
At a press conference organised last Saturday, on the state of roads and infrastructures in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, the Igbogbo youths, under the aegis of Igbogbo Youth Coalition (IYC), said that the kingdom has abundant of human resources that can represent Ikorodu Division and the state at large.
President of IYC, Kazeem Ogunmyiwa, on behalf of the umbrella body of youths in Igbogbo, pleaded with the governor to consider some indigenes of Igbogbo for political appointments.
“Igbogbo is a great kingdom of exceptional indigenes who are well trained, experienced and qualified to hold significant positions in the political setting of the state, today. We have outstanding academics, medical professionals, legal practitioners, engineers, classified and seasoned educators; the list is endless”, he said.
“Your Excellency Sir, these quality individuals will provide better progressive ideas for your leadership. We, unreservedly, recommend them for appointments”
Dr Dankuwo Adeleke, a medical practitioner, community developer and member of the Igbogbo Youth Coalition (IYC), speaking with THE IMPACT, said that Igbogbo has been edged out of Ikorodu Division’s political arrangement, and called for redress of the situation.
He said that the ancient Igbogbo community deserves to have, at least, a nominee in the next cabinet of the governor.
“It is no longer news that the Igbogbo community played pivotal roles when it comes to politics in Ikorodu Division and over time, we have seen the way political appointments were distributed. Now, if you look at the political arrangement of the Ikorodu Division scientifically, you will understand that Igbogbo is nowhere to be found in that equation”, he said.
“If occupants of the Senatorial and House of Representatives seats and one of the Assembly members are from Ikorodu Central, while that of the Ikorodu Constituency II, is from Ijede LCDA, it is expected that if three nominations for Commissionership appointments are coming to Ikorodu Division, Igbogbo deserves to have one”, he added.
“This is as a matter of fact, equity and fairness. It is also important that other parts of the division should be considered. That is how to balance the equation”.
He appealed to the duo of Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun and Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, the two chieftains of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) from Igbogbo, on the need to work together and ensure that they bring a Commissionership slot to Igbogbo, in second term of Sanwo – Olu.
“We are looking up to the two GAC members to bring, at least, one Commissionership appointment back home to us. We will be happy with them. We don’t hate them because they are our fathers and we want to continue to support them like we did during the last elections and like we have been doing”, he charged.
“They need to bring back home dividends of democracy for all our support. I will appeal to our GAC members to go back and address our plights and agitations. We cannot accept a situation where Igbogbo is not considered for any Commissionership appointment.
“We are appealing to them to go back and either meet with Mr Governor or back to their leadership meeting and let them know that their community is not accepting their resolution without considering Igbogbo”.
While stating that Igbogbo people are not violent, but are only appealing for what they deserve, Dankuwo also stated that residents will resist the constitution of the state cabinet without an Igbogbo indigenes.
“We are not violent, but are only appealing to them. They are our fathers and we love them, and we will continue to support them, but they must realise that politics in Igbogb, can no longer be played as usual. We will continue to resist and talk about it until the right thing is done”, he said.
“I believe that with these appeals, they will go back to the governor and do the right thing”.
In the same vein, a youth leader and community developer in Igbogbo, Lion Olatunde Okusanya, said that the demand by Igbogbo for a Commissionership slot, is based on justice and equity.
“The truth of the matter is that if you consider governance in Lagos State, especially as it concerns Ikorodu Division, we are blessed to have a Senator from Ikorodu Central and we are also blessed to have a member of the House of Representatives, also from Ikorodu Central”, he said.
“A member of the House of Assembly is also from Ikorodu Central, and the second one is from Ijede in Ikorodu Constituency II.
“We believe that for justice and equity in this dispensation, appointment considerations should be all round and not centralized in one place. Ikorodu North LCDA is there and so is Ikorodu West, Igbogbo/Bayeku and Imota LCDAs.
“Our quest is for justice, equity and peace. The Division should be generally represented, for governance to get to the grassroots”, he said.
Okusanya, while commending the two GAC chieftains for their roles and efforts so far, also appealed to them to believe in the youths that have been working with them and have capacity for political appointments.
“Our fathers have done their best and they are still doing their best, but at this moment, we want to call on them to carry the youths along. They are getting weak by the day, hence, they should carry their children along. They should empower their children. This is our cry for help to our fathers”, he said.
“Igbogbo/Bayeku is blessed to have two notable GAC members. These are people that are reputable and respected anywhere they go in the world. If Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had not empowered people around him, he wouldn’t have won the last election.
“We know that our fathers are not coming out for any elective position and they have done wonderfully well,,however, it is time for our fathers to trust and allow us to work for them. Gone are those days that we would be told that we are not educated and exposed. Many of us have masters degree and are reputable professionals in various fields of endeavours, why don’t you use us”, he asked rhetorically.
“We work with them during the elections, but now that it has come to appointments, none of us is credible enough. Ahaha, ki lode?”, he asked.
Comrade Francis Shonubi, the Vice Chairman, Community Initiative for Igbogbo Development Union (CIIDU), also speaking, said that Igbogbo has competent hands that can represent the division in the state cabinet, and pleaded with the two GAC leaders from Igbogbo community, to ensure that they get a slot for Igbogbo.
“The youths of Igbogbo are calling for inclusiveness in the appointment at the state level. We have sons and daughters that can act in any capacity. We demand for fair share in the distribution of appointment or nomination at the state level”, he said.
“The two GAC members from our community, in the persons of Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Reuben Basorun and Senator Adeseye Kingsley Ogunlewe, should embrace peace and love in their duty at GAC, and also put the love of the community first above personal interest. We pray for love among them that will attract development to our community”, Shonubi charged.
He also went further to state that Igbogbo has qualified candidates with capacity to deliver on assignments given to them at the state level.
“We have qualified sons and daughters that can serve at the state level, among whom are: the current Chairman of my dear LCDA, Builder Comrade Sesan Mayokun Daini, Mr. NTA Andu Balogun, Hammed O. Aroyewun, Mr. Gbenga Ogunlewe, Alhaja Adenike Ashake Wahab, to mention a few”, he mentioned.
Meanwhile, the apex leaders of APC in Ikorodu Division, we gathered, are appealing to the Governor, to cede an additional cabinet slot to lkorodu, based on the performance of the Division in the last general elections, and for proper distribution of political benefits.
