Kunle Adelabu
The Ikorodu Federal representative, Rep. Babajimi Benson has again called on the Lagos State Government to pay more attention to Ikorodu in terms of infrastructural development and services.
Benson who commended the government for its efforts also sympathised with the governor on the enormous challenges he has to face in satisfying everybody.
The three – term lawmaker made the call at the commissioning of the Erikorodu – Odogunyan Road in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA) at the weekend.
He, however, assured Ikorodu residents and indeed every Nigerian that they would start feeling the federal government’s impacts by the second quarter of this year.
“We have the best array of leaders. Is it former Permanent Secretaries, Commissioner or Senator? We have them all and much more. There is no division with the amount of quality that we have. If you now look at our GAC chieftains and royal fathers, Ikorodu is ‘Oga’ (leader) indeed.
“We have the highest votes in Lagos State and as mentioned by Baba Olorunfunmi Basorun and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, that the we recorded 90, 000 votes during the Fashola’s administration and there is nothing to stop us from having over 250, 000 votes.
“The last time, I did the statistics of the frequency of BRT buses plying Ikorodu to and from on a daily basis and there is no other division in Lagos State that has that record. None has half of it.
“Secondly, when we also talk about ferry services, there is also no other division that has our traffic, not even half of it.
“Whenever I say that when Ikorodu sneezes, Lagos will catch cold, I am talking based on data and evidence.
“If we decided to block the Ikorodu Road and ask our people to stay at home for 10 days, they would ask DG (former Deputy Governor Abiodun Ogunleye) to appeal to us,” the exemplary legislator said jokingly.
While clamouring for more state government’s presence in Ikorodu, Rep. Benson charged that focus should also be shifted on other areas and not only road:
“We need more services in Ikorodu. We need light rail. We need more in Ikorodu. We need more and more. Though, Lagos State Government is trying, we have been allocated orange line, but because our votes are huge, we have to continually tell them that Ikorodu has to be in the forefront.
“I speak with the Governor about this every time. I am very close to him and I always have sympathy for him because the compensation alone for the demolished houses in Isawo a is N30billion and that in Igbogbo too also runs into several billions.
“Nero (Dr. Nurudeen Agbaje, Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development), just said in Ikorodu North LCDA alone that they have facilitated 15 transformers but we hardly hear about these. They have done several roads but they have to focus on other areas.
“They have assured us that the roads will be completed and we want them to prioritise the roads, but that is not to say that they (state government) is not doing anything at all.”
He has also assured Nigerians that they will start feeling the impacts of President Bola Tinubu’s administration from the second quarter of the year.
“Starting from the second quarter of 2025, Nigerians will start enjoying. You can see that naira has started appreciating against dollars. A dollar is now N1500. Our reserve is going higher
“I am one of the lawmakers that is in the forefront of tax reform and we are letting others opposed to it to understand why we must have it. The tax bill is a way of restructuring Nigeria. It will bring more wealth and prosperity.
“Those earning minimum wage are no longer paying tax and businesses that are making N50 milion and below are also tax free. About 91 taxes that are being collected from Nigerians have been streamlined into just six. The local government will also be receiving their allocation direct from the federal government
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu wants relief and comfort for Nigerians”, he said.
Also speaking on the forthcoming local government elections, the three – term federal lawmaker said that his party will ensure that the people’s choice is reflected.
“The local government election is fast approaching and we will try as much as possible to allow the people’s choice to emerge.
“We are waiting for the guidelines and we will try as much as possible to please our people because it is only when we please you that we can improve on our votes.
“I am always an advocate of free and fair primaries. I am at the House of Representatives because I won my primary elections. I contested against big men and women. Otunba Fatai Olukoga was the Special Adviser to former Governor Fashola and a small me was at the LSDPC then but I won.
“Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani was a former council Chairman and was already coasting home with victory before me, a small boy came into the race and took the victory from him. Hon. Abike Dabiri was a three – term member of the House of Representatives. There was also late Primate Charles Odugbesi.
“We conducted one of freest and fairest primaries ever,’ he recalled.
He also clarified that he is still very much in love with representing the people of Ikorodu at the House of Representatives.
He called for prayers for himself and leaders for them to guide us into the promised land.
