Kunle Adelabu
Residents of Ikorodu, have started going on the streets to protest the alleged marginalization of the division, following the release of the proposed list of cabinet members for the second term administration of Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, which has widely been described as unfavourable to the division.
The list, which was sent to the Lagos State House of Assembly last Friday, has generated so much controversies with residents of Ikorodu, calling the one slot allocation given to the division, as marginalization and unfair, considering its support for the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) and the re – election of the governor in the last general elections.
The protesters gathered at the Ikorodu garage and Ogolonto junction, carrying placards which had different inscriptions to convey the grievances of the protesters.
The inscriptions included, ‘Sanwo – Olu wetin we do you for Ikorodu’, ‘Say No To Bad Road’ and ‘Sanwo – Olu Stop Marginalising Ikorodu’, among others.
THE IMPACT gathered that only Ms. Abisola Ruth Olusanya, the former Commissioner for Agriculture, made the list from Ikorodu. Although, there is another name from Ikorodu, one Mrs Toke Benson, but majority are of the opinion that she is not representing Ikorodu, on the list.
THE IMPACT authoritatively reported last month that the apex leaders of APC in lkorodu, sent three names – Ms Abisola Olusanya, Dr Frederick Oladeinde and Dr Nurudeen Agbaje, to the governor, as nominees for the Commissionership and Special Adviser positions.
It has been protest galore since weekend, on WhatsApp platforms and other social media platforms related to Ikorodu, as concerned residents have continued to ask the governor to treat Ikorodu, appropriately.
Meanwhile, some residents have raised serious concern over the protest that rocked the Ikorodu roundabout and along the popular Lagos Road today. Some of the residents that commented described the protest as not necessary.
They expressed fear that the protest might be hijacked.
Mr Fatai Adewale Gbadamosi, a community developer in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), commenting, described the protest for more Commisionership positions, as misplaced. Instead, he asked that residents to focus more on engaging the government in paying more attention to state of infrastructures in Ikorodu.
“On my way to work around 8:00 o’clock this Monday morning, I ran into this crowd of youths around Ogolonto bus stop , carrying placards with various inscriptions, calling for additional commissioneship slots for Ikorodu division, and calling the attention of the governor to appoint more commissioners from Ikorodu division”, he said. .
“However well – intentioned the motives behind the agitation of this youth group are, I am inclined to think differently. I feel that a call on the Lagos state governor to give priority attention to the state of infrastructural decay and abandonment of most ongoing road projects in lkorodu, would have been more appropriate in view of the pains and anguish that we experience daily.
“Appointing more commissioners is good, but that will not directly translate to immediate relief except to create avenue to settle political interest, which only benefits politicians”, he added.
Com Michael Olasoji, the Chairman, African Action Congress (AAC), Ikorodu Local Government, also called the protest misplaced.
He queried why residents are not protesting to council secretariats for poor performances of most of council chairmen in the division.
“Misplaced priority, they are not protesting for good governance, good roads, infrastructural projects. Those that have been selected before now, what did they offer?”, he asked rhetorically.
“All the LCDA chairmen are performing badly, they are not staging protest to their secretariats.
“Selfish political leaders and poor followers all in the name of being party loyal boy, brought Ikorodu to where it is today in Lagos. It’s high time all residents and indigenes come together and speak in one voice, in order to make Ikorodu great, not awon baba sope”, he said,
Mr Oke Godwin OlaOluwa, also commenting, alleged that the protest was sponsored.
“A sponsored protest by a disgruntled politician most likely”.
Another residents and a political operative, Mr Owolabi Anifowoshe, also said that addressing the perceived marginalization is about political calculation, and not issue for street protest.
“The stakeholders know that this is not the way to go, this is more of noise than protest. The protest is not for the street, it should be a political boardroom thing”, he said.
“This should be a litmus test for our 2 new assembly members… if only for the records”.
