SANWO-OLU CHARGES ROYAL FATHERS ON VOTER ADVOCACY, ENSURE PEACE AND HARMONY PREVAIL AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTIONS

Story by Razaq Adedeji Jimoh

ONIKOTUN THANKS SUCCESSFUL GOVERNORS, PLEADS FOR OVERHEAD BRIDGE AT IKTON ROUNDABOUT

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu has advised royal fathers to work towards ensuring that this election season concludes with minimal rancor that will ensure "peace and cohesion" among residents of their respective communities prevail. He said his administration valued partnership with royal institutions in thrust of community growth and development.

He made all this to be the high point of his speech to the guests at the 25th coronation anniversary of the Onikotun of Ikotun, HRM Oba Azeez Ishola Gbadabiu Asiwaju, held on Sunday At the local council secretariat of Igando/Ikotun LCDA in Alimosho Local Government. He was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Goverment and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs Kikelomo Bolarinwa.

While thanking His Excellency, the 'Oliver Twist' Onikotun openly requested the governor to help in coverting another of his advocacy to reward, which he revealed to be a request of flyover at Ikotun major Roundabout to solve the problem of perpetual traffic gridlock around the area. He described it as the most pressing project the Kingdom of Ikotun looks forward to earnestly.

SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, MRS ABIMBOLA HUNDEYIN ARRIVING THE OCCASION

Present at the occasion as Principal State actors included Hon Ganiyu Adele, Member of the House of Representatives representing Alimosho Federal Constituency; Hon Kehinde Joseph and Hon Lukmon Orelope, both members of the State House of Assembly representing Alimosho Constituency O2 and 01 respectively.

Hon Kehinde Joseph (left standing); Hon Ganiyu Ayuba (middle); Hon Lukmon Orelope (right sitted)

Royal fathers from across the four cardinal corners of the State included the bodies of Lagos State Council of Obas, the Baales and captains of industries operating within and outside the precinct of Alimosho Federal Constituency.

Speaking at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu reminded the royal fathers seated and for those across the State that they had "critical" roles that that include improvement of voter participation and in maintaining peace and harmony during and after this election season.

He said: "I wish to speak also on the critical role of traditional institutions at this particular moment in our national life. As Nigeria moves towards another electoral season, the role of royal fathers becomes more critical. We are going into a time when election tensions become rife and vindictive with voices that turn Lagos into opponents.

"This is when traditional institution conserve the values of democratic governance. Our royal fathers are not outside the loop. They have the moral foundation. They are the one that submit to non-party affiliations with trust of the people in the authority and without personal stains in the event.

"When the campaigns are over and wound heals, it is the throne that people look up to know that they are neighbours before they are partisan. I therefore call on all the royal majesties across Lagos State to use their standing aptitude to encourage voter participation, reduce violence and intimidation, and help to ensure that when electoral season concludes, peace and cohesion of our communities remain intact.

Earlier in his speech, Gov Sanwo-Olu said the event should rather be seen as a stock taking of what history has meant for Lagos State as a whole through the corridor of Alimosho Local Government and Ikotun in particular. He described Oba Gbadabiu as a manager of people who has used his immense wisdom to unify the ethnic diversity of people that has turned the Kingdom into mini Nigeria.

He said: "I am pleased to join the celebration of His Royal Majesty, Oba Azeez Ishola Gbadabiu Asiwaju, the Onikotun of Ikotun Kingdom, on his 25years coronation anniversary. Today, we gather here not to really observe the date, but to take stock of what history has meant for Alimosho, for Ikotun Kingdom and for Lagos State as a whole. Ikotun occupies special place in the history of Lagos. This is a community that has grown, absorbed and adapted, yet it has not lost its essence.

"Oba Gbadabiu himself has designed Ikotun as a mini Nigeria. A place where the Yoruba, Fulani, Hausa, Igbo and citizens from across West Africa live side by side in peace. This is not an accident. It is a consistent decision of a traditional ruler that has made peaceful coexistence a pressing value. In a country where communal venture is always a risk, Ikotun set up of harmony is what the state government recognizes and commends. Thank you very much, Alayelua for contributing to the development of the state generally and Ikotun in particular".

The Governor said the monarch holds the credit to much of the developmental strides Ikotun has witnessed. He said Onikotun maintained a ceaseless "advocacy" for his people, the result of which brought about the building of Abaranje Road. He described it as an example of how the royal institutions and the constitutional government could work in partnership.

He said: "His Royal Majesty has also demonstrated what it means for a traditional ruler to be a genuine advocate for his people. When the roads in the communities were dilapidated and the residents were bearing the neglect daily, the Onikotun was not silent. He engaged the State consistently on the Abaranje Road corridor and I'm proud to note that this administration responded. The rehabilitation and dualisation of 3.86Kilometer Abaranje Road which we inaugurated last year was the direct answer to the advocacy of his Majesty".

The Govnor also commended Onikotun for taking initiatiatives to lead and pledge the people's resolve to take charge on the protection of government infrastructure in the Kingdom. He described it as a "model" of partnership with government for other Kingdoms to emulate.

THE MUSICAL BOUND OF MUSILIU HARUNA ISHOLA

He said: "When the injection substation to improve power supply to thousands of households and businesses in this corridor was commissioned, it was Onikotun who spoke on behalf of his people on their commitments to protect the infrastructure. That is the model of how the traditional and constitutional authorities should work together. And it is the model this Kingdom exemplifies".

In his remarks, the celebrator, Oba Gbadabiu, recalled the event day of the year 2001 when the current President Tinubu gave him the Staff of Office, adding his gratefulness to the successful governors of the State after him.Describing himself as the proverbial 'Oliver Twist', he reminded the Governor that the next project the people of Ikotun needed now was overhead bridge.

He said: "My appreciation and gratefulness go much to our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is because he personally came here to give me the Staff of Office in 2021. Those who knew how Ikotun was like then and how Ikotun is today will testify to how it has progressed. This is the reason I have to also thank Fashola, Ambode and Sanwo-Olu. It is their cooperation that has made Ikotun what it is today.

"But it should not end there. PS (Perm Sec) should help to deliver this message. My Oliver Twist will continue to ask for more one after another. Why I'm saying this is that at this our Ikotun Roundabout, if you look at it very well; I have been crying out about it for long. We need Overhead Bridge there. Gov Sanwo-Olu knows that what we need as the next project in Ikotun is the Overhead Bridge. We have written letters to that effect.