Kunle Adelabu
The Executive Secretary, Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited/GTE, Otunba Ganiyu Adesegun Abiru, has blamed lack of committed and sincere political leaders that can fight for the interest of Ikorodu, for the reason the Division is losing out on prominent positions in the public service.
Abiru, who retired as a Permanent Secretary/Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly and a former Sole Administrator of Ikorodu Local Government, said that Ikorodu Division is blessed with quality and seasoned administrators and academia, but that they have been ignored in the scheme of things.
His lamentation is coming on the recent report by THE IMPACT, on the appointment of two substantive and pioneer Deputy Vice Chancellors (Administration and Academics) for the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, both who are not from Ikorodu.
It would be recalled that people from Ikorodu protested the appointment of the pioneer LASUSTECH Vice-CChancellor, Prof. Olumuyiwa Omotola Odusanya, who is not from Ikorodu.
Abiru frowned at the way and manner that the Division is being treated when it comes to political and other appointments and allocation of other benefits among the divisions in the state, despite the support that the ruling party has continued to enjoy from Ikorodu.
“It is sad to observe that something unusual is happening to lkorodu division. Seems we are losing out in all spheres’ ‘, Otunba Abiru said.
“Just imagine the two new appointments in LASUSTECH. None from our division was considered, and I am sure it is not a reason for incompetence or inadequacy of academic qualifications, but for the absence of people to fight the course of our people in the Ivory Tower”, the outspoken community leader lamented.
“Very unfortunate that in politics, we are not reckoned with despite our age long unblemished loyalty to the ruling political party. In public service, we are nowhere to be found, and regrettably in the Academia, we are being slapped in the face because of our timidity.
“For how long should we continue to suffer in silence?”, Otunba Abiru asked rhetorically.
Otunba Abiru painted a gloomy picture of the future of Ikorodu, if no concerted efforts are made by all concerned to address what he termed injustice and game of shame.
“Our sons and daughters are beginning to lose confidence in those claiming leadership of this division. All of these injustice continues without discernible efforts to redress the myriads of imbalance in sectoral appointments”, he said.
“As we go on in this game of shame, a time will come when indigenes of this division will publicly disclaim their indigeneship.
“One thing I am sure of is that we can’t leave the future, career and destiny of our budding youths in the hands of those who perennially claim that their efforts yield no fruition.
“You can’t continue doing the same thing the same way and expect a different outcome. It will be delusional to do so”.
He charged Ikorodu people on the need to consider realigning with alternative political parties which will protect the interest of the Division, if the current marriage with the ruling party is not productive.
“If the political party we tenaciously hold on to does not give us the deserved respect, what is bad in trying something else?”, Abiru asked the Ikorodu people.
“It is time we all rise to challenge the unfair treatment meted to us by the government of Lagos. And loudly we should make our agitations known.
“Enough is Enough!”, he lamented.
