Kunle Adelabu
-Recalls how he emerged as Rep through unity
The representative of Ikorodu Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), has called on stakeholders and the entire residents in his constituency, to co- exist peacefully in unity and love.
Aro, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Public Private Partnership (PPP), also pleaded with the tradition rulers in his constituency, especially the Ranodu of Imota and the Obateru of Egbin, to ensure that their relationship is more cordial.
The performing lawmaker made the appeal at the final of the maiden edition of the Ikorodu Constituency II Unity Cup he initiated and sponsored.
The Igbogbo All Stars Football Club emerged winners of the football tournament and received the N500,000 star prize money, while Makbet All Stars Football Club of Ibeshe, got N400, 000 as the second placed team and Abiyamo All Stars Football Club of All Stars Football Club, Igbe, received N300,000 and N200,000 respectively, as the third and fourth placed teams.
16 All Stars teams across the three Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in lkorodu Constituency ll (Igbogbo/Bayeku, Ijede and Imota) participated in the tournament.
Hon. Aro, in his remarks at the final match, said that the tournament, aside that it focused on youth development, it was also used to promote unity and love among the constituents.
“This historic tournament was initiated to promote unity, love and sportsmanship, while fostering youth development and fitness .
“Over the weeks, it has been a platform to celebrate football talents and bring together people from all works of life.
“The final showdown that we just witnessed between Igbogbo All Stars and Makbet, Ibeshe All Stars, is a testament to unity that exists among us.
“I feel so happy because the match was so interesting that it had to be decided through penalty shootouts with both teams playing 11 penalties each without any one of them emerging winners and had to end at 12 – 13 for the winners to emerge.
“This has shown the love and bonds among us. I saw Kabiyesi (Adebouwa) jumping out of his seat when Igbogbo eventually won, to celebrate the victory. Likewise, I saw some of my leaders like Pastor Ayetoba (former Chairman, APC, Igbogbo/Bayeku LGA), too showing passion for the Ibeshe team”, Hon. Aro said.
While stating that he is a product of unity, Aro also added it is only through unity and love within the constituency that sustainable developments can be assured.
“Here, we are all showing our love for our different communities and we must extend this to entire constituency, because it is through this that we can achieve not just development, but a sustainable one.
“I specially want to appreciate Hon. Wasiu Agoro, Chairman, Imota LCDA, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba and Hon. Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA. It is their unity that produced me.
“That was the power of unity and cooperation. The coming together of the three of them with the support of our Obas and other stakeholders, are what produced me as the representative of Ikorodu Constituency II.
“To further the unity, that is why I organized this cup with 16 All Stars teams to come together to run after one single leather ball, and today (Sunday), we are gathered here to celebrate ourselves”, he said.
While speaking further on how how he emerged as the representative of Ikorodu Constituency II through unity among the stakeholders, he added that he is using the tournament to further entrench unity and love within the Constituency.
“You can see the trajectory of unity. My emergence came into being because three people came together to agree, although, I wouldn’t want to go deep into the details because there were other factors that propelled the three chairmen to work for my emergence.
“It is because I am a product of unity, that is why I have also decided to produce something good for my constituency and sustain the unity.
“That is why I am using this cup to unite the communities in Constituency II, and I thank you all for the support and cooperation”, the lawmaker revealed.
He revealed his plan to use the six royal fathers – Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Ranodu of Imota, Obateru of Egbin, Alajede of Ijede, Olubeshe of Ibeshe and Fidimolu of Elepe, as faces of the tournament.
He specifically pleaded with the Ranodu and the Obateru to ensured that they have a more cordial relationship in the interest of all.
“By next edition, we shall be using the six Kabiyesi as the face of the Ikorodu Constituency II Unity Cup. We shall be using your pictures, including that of the Ijede royal father which I believe would have been crowned by then, to promote the tournament.
“So, we want you, our revered royal fathers, to be in unity and love, especially Oba Obateru and Ranodu. We want the relationship to be more cordial.
“We want our revered Kabiyesi to consider us as we gathered here today to promote unity, to also embrace it. Our Kabiyesi are the custodians of lands in Ijede, Egbin, Imota, Igbogbo and Ibeshe and the entire lands in Ikorodu Constituency II”, Hon. Aro Moshood pleaded.
