Jimi Benson commissions ultra modern legislative building in Igbogbo-Baiyeku

…We are leaving a legacy–Sesan Daini

…As APC Chair, Ojelabi reels out modalities for 2025 council elections

By Bose Adelaja

CITIZENS COMPASS--The House of Representatives member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos State, Babajimi Adegoke Benson, has commissioned an ultra modern legislative and administrative building in the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the constituency.

The edifice, sitting within the Igbogbo-Baiyeku secretariat was facilitated by the Council Chairman, Olusesan Mayokun Daini popularly known as Builder Daini as part of his bid to creative, conducive and enabling environment for effective legislation across the constituency,

The event which was held on Monday, played host to some eminent personalities in the All Progressives Congress (APC), government functionaries, traditional rulers and many others within and outside Igbogbo-Baiyeku who all applauded Daini for making the party proud. 

While Commissioning the project, Benson gave kudos to the Builder for conceiving and delivering the laudable project in Igbogbo-Baiyeku.

He noted that he understood the crucial roles of vibrant legislative chambers in driving development to communities. He said, ”This chamber will provide a conducive environment for our councillors to enable them achieve their mandate of legislation, representation and oversight, especially in this era of local government autonomy. It is time for our councillors to enjoy and assert authority in their legislative functions. “The building is expected to serve as an impetus for robust debates, passing resolutions and making vital decisions that will propel the community to  enviable heights in Lagos State;”

Going down memory lane, he said his first meeting with the council chairman was in the house of an Elder Statesman and former Secretary to the state government, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, and this culminated the bond which is yielding tremendous results for the LCDA.

He promised that the ongoing construction of the 13-Kilometre Offin-Oreta road in Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA would be completed in February 2025 saying Daini had been on his neck to facilitate this.

In his address, the Council chairman said the project was fully funded by his administration and delivered within a space of six months without applying for loan. He said, ”We have delivered this project within six months without applying for loan. This is to confirm our commitment to efficiency, effectiveness and excellence for the residents of Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA.”

The Builder who will be rounding off his tenure in 2025 said, ”This building is more than just a physical structure as it symbolises our dedication and commitment to serving our community,”

About facilities, he said, It consists of 55-seater chamber, five councillors offices, the clerk office, offices for three heads of departments and 30 work stations offices for party staffs.”

He said the project has 15 modern rest rooms with 17 air conditions adding, ”I am happy that all these facilities are fully furnished to ensure that our councillors and staffs have the necessary tools to excel in their duties,

‘As we round off our second tenure, this project serves as a legacy as we have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of our citizens and this building is part of our continued efforts.”

He also said the 13-kilometre Ofin-Oreta road which is under construction in the constituency would be completed within the first quarter of 2025.

In his Goodwill message, the state chairman of the Party, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, applauded the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing into law, the local government autonomy which he said would boost development in the state.

Also, he lauded the efforts of Daini for the edifice, ”I want to thank Sesan Daini for projecting the image, and developmental ideas of our party which gave birth to what we are witnessing today.

‘We have also seen the type of the monumental achievements he has recorded and I make bold to say that whoever is able to deliver the dividends of democracy at the grassroots level, the sky is your limit. This is to say that anybody that serves the grassroots diligently and is not recommended for higher responsibilities should examine himself as this means you have not served the people perfectly.”

In conclusion, he said all candidates vying for various positions at the 2025 council elections should have proven records as the party would not in anyway impose candidates on the constituents,

The state chairman said the constituents would be allowed to choose candidates of their choice as unqualified candidates would not receive the backings of the leaders of the Party,

The APC leader gave kudos to Daini attaining great heights in terms of developmental projects among which is initiating the Joint Taskforce in the LCDA, ”The primary objective of any government is security and I applaud him for creating the Joint Taskforce in Igbogbo-Baiyeku.”

Continuing, he said, ”he muted the idea of the Joint Taskforce to compliment the job of our regular security agencies. I give him kudos for this. We have also seen the monumental achievements he has recorded and I make bold to say that whoever is able to deliver the dividends of democracy at the grassroots level will not have limitation in any case, this is to say that anybody that serves the grassroots diligently and is not recommended for higher responsibilities should examine himself because this means he or she has not served the people diligently and perfectly.

”In your own case, you came, serve and recorded triumphant achievements for our party.

As the Chairman of the party, my team is proud to say that we presented a candidate to the people of Igbogbo-Baiyeku and he has delivered.

”I want to thank the leadership of Ikorodu for being proactive and doing a thorough research before presenting a candidate that will represent the party and the interest of the people.”

On the envisaged local government elections in Lagos, he said, ”The local government election is fast approaching and some of you have indicated interest to contest but let me say that whoever that is coming after Daini should examine and rexamine himself to know if you will meet up with the task ahead of you in the sense that you have to work with the leadership as the party relies on this to guide us.

We will not seat at the state secretariat and know what is happening in Igbogbo-Baiyeku neither are we going to impose candidates on you.

”Whoever wants to be a councillor, council chairman and all other elective positions will be chosen by the people at a free and fair primary election.

”With the recent judgement of the Supreme Court, we need to work harder because a lot of responsibilities will rest on the shoulders of our councillors and I want to believe that is what prompted the idea of this gigantic edifice to make the legislature responsibilities at the local governments much easier so that they can discharge their responsibilities to the best of their abilities.

”I make bold to say that a committee has been set up across the three senatorial districts in the state to move round and access the performance of local government chairmen and they will start their work at month end.”

Also in their goodwill messages, party chieftains in Ikorodu Division and state levels applauded the project.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs & Rural Developmental, Kikelomo Oduyebo, said of the project, ”I must say that this building is an architectural masterpiece, edifice and a legacy project. It could not have come at a better time than this, when the idea of local government autonomy is being finalised. It will foster greater collaboration between the executive and the legislative in this council and engnder better collaborations between the executive and legislative arm of government.

Also in his Goodwill message, former Minister for Works, Prince Adeseye Ogunlewe, admonished the Council Chairman to be closer to the party Faithful within the LCDA.

The traditional ruler of Igbogbo Kingdom, Oba Abdulsemiu Orimadegun Kasali, prayed for more success for the Builder.

In his Goodwill message, Pa Basorun thanked everyone who stood firmly to make the LCDA what it is. 

The edifice was named after Pa Ruben Olorunfunmi Basorun.