Kunle Adelabu
-As Ikorodu North LCDA celebrates lawmaker’s birthday
It was smiles and relief for the residents of Lambo – Lasunwon community, also called First Gate, on Saturday, March 30, 2024, as the 1.6km road that connects the community which has been in terrible state for decades, was flagged off for construction.
The flag – off of the 1.6km Lambo Lasunwon road construction, which commemorated the 52nd birthday of Rep. Babajimi Benson, is the 45th road facilitated to Ikorodu Federal Constituency and 15th road facilitated to Ikorodu North LCDA.
The flag-off ceremony, performed by Former Minister of Works and chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Sir (Sen.) Adeseye Ogunlewe, also had in attendance HRM (Oba) Olukayode Raji, the Eweye of Isiu, Hon. Adeola Banjo, Chairman, Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Builder Sesan Daini, Chairmen of Igbogbo Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Sulaiman Kazeem, Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Dr Adeola Jokomba, State Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani, Chairman, APC, Ikorodu Division and Mr Ayodeji Iginla, former Rector, Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) among other dignitaries.
Contractor handling the project pledged to complete it by the 3rd quarter of the year.
Mayor Muyideen Sanwoola, the Executive Assistant on Lagos State Parking Authority and Director – General, iCare Foundation, speaking at the event, said that the flag – off being performed on Rep. Benson’s birthday, was significant, adding that Ikorodu North LCDA has benefited more than other five councils in terms of roads facilitated by Hon Benson.
“Today is very deliberate. We needed this road flag – off to be impactful and that was why we chose this day for the flag – off ceremony. Today is Hon. Babajimi Babajimi Benson’s birthday and because of the importance he attached to this local council and this ward in particular, he chose to flag – off this road on his birthday”, he said.
“Ikorodu North LCDA has been able to get some things out of us that other councils have not been able to get. It is the only council that got 11 roads constructed at once. It is also the only council that we flagged off two roads in one month.
“When you start counting the number of roads that we have delivered so far, it’s about 15 roads. The highest among all the other councils. .
He said that the choice of the Lambo – Lasunwon construction is strategic to the future electoral value of lkorodu Division in the state and the nation at large, while also revealing that the federal lawmaker and his team are still working towards getting the Ita – Oluwo – Agbede road constructed.
“This particular ward has a federal ward, Agbede which has a large voting strength of 6, 500 registered voters then. It may be more now, but when the election came, Agbede got 1700 votes which was about quarter of what we should get, but there is a reason for that because they wanted to vote but the polling booth and unit played major factor”, he said.
“If there is a road in the entire Division that we would really love to work on, it is that Agbede road. We are trying every way and we have been at that road three times, but we will get through it. I am not promising, but by God grace, we are going to try everything that we have to get that road done because we need those votes (at Agbede). They are key in pushing Ikorodu up in term of voting strength”.
He pleaded with residents to show understanding with the contractor by managing the inconveniences for few months that the project would be completed. He also pleaded with the youths in the area not to disturb the contractor.
The iCare DG also charged the landlords in the area not to overburden the residents with high rents when the road is completed as the area would be given a facelift.
The Ikorodu North LCDA Chairman, Builder Adeola Banjo, who was the host, was full of appreciation to the federal lawmaker whom he described in many positive names for his impacts on Ikorodu Federal Constituency.
“We will continue to thank Hon. Jimi Benson, because this is not the first or the second projects. Within a month, Ikorodu North LCDA got two major road construction that he facilitated”, he said.
He also acknowledged the iCare Foundation Director General, Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola and members of the team.
The Eweye of Isiu, Oba Raji, in his royal remarks, was filled with prayers and commendations, and also added that Rep. Benson’s performance was very surprising and at the same time, awesome because no one ever believed that he could perform this much.
While commending Rep. Benson for his interventions in making the inner roads motorrable and linking the major roads, Eweye also requested the lawmaker’s intervention on some other roads in Ikorodu North LCDA, like Agbede, Odo – Nla, Odo Kekere, Maya, Olorunda, Gbaga, Adamo, Araro among others.
The Eweye also charged and emphasized the need for the next Governor of Lagos State to emerge from Ikorodu.
The Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Ikorodu Division, Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani, while stating that the Lambo Lasunwon road, after completion, would bring lots of relief to the residents of the areas, also commended Benson for his overall performance.
Also at the flag – off, the Ikorodu North LCDA presented bottles of wines, while Oba Raji led other dignitaries to cut cakes to mark Rep. Benson’s 52nd birthday.
