'AGBAJE CONVERTS OPPORTUNITY TO GOVERN AYOBO/IPAJA POSITIVELY -- OJELABI AFFIRMS

PRAISES HIM FOR WORKING IN TANDEM WITH RENEWED HOPE AGENDA

The Lagos State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Apostle Cornelius Ojelabi, has commended the Executive Chairman of Ayobo/Ipaja LCDA, Hon (Dr.) Agbaje Lukmon Abiodun for the various projects he commissioned for the celebration of his 100 days in office. He said he was personally impressed that all the projects were the direct expectations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wishes for how the Renewed Hope Agenda should be implemented at the grassroots.

He added that his performance in three months of office had become a pride to the APC and an electoral asset to the Alimosho Federal Constituency, saying he duly converted the "opportunity" the party gave him to govern the people of Ayobo/Ipaja LCDA

In the same breath, he advised the performing Council Chairman to deepen his inclusive governance with experiences of past public office holders and party executives to enhance the electoral asset value he is building with good governance.

The state Chairman made this statement on Thursday at the Ground Finale of the 100 days celebration held at the Council premises in Igbogila area of Ipaja, Alimosho, Lagos. He came in company with some members of the State Executive Council, including the Stare Vice Chairman, Lagos West Senatorial District, Chief Sunday Babatunde Aboyade; the State Secretary, Hon Muyideen Adeola Jokomba.

Also in attendance among the special guests were the Executive Chairman of Alimosho LG, Hon Ibrahim Akinpelu Johnson; his Vice-chairman, Hon Adebisi; former MHR, Hon Olufemi Adebanjo (aka Eyesopen); a party chieftain and LGA Party Chairman hopeful for Mosan/Okunola LCDA, Engr Taofeek Lawal; LGA Party Chairman, Agbado Okeodo LCDA, Alhaji Mukaila and a host of others.

Akinpelu Johnson (left) and his Vice, Francis (middle) at the event

On ground to receive them were the Apex Leader of the Alimosho Progressives, Hon (Prince Bisi Yusuf; the man of the moment, Hon (Dr.) Agbaje Lukmon Abiodun; his Vice Chairman, Hon Oladipupo Oluwaloni (aka Olo); the APC LGA Chairman, Chief Wole Aina; and the Ayobo/Ipaja Council Manager leading members of the Council staffs.

In his speech, the APC State Chairman said Agbaje displayed his cultural humility when he dedicated his speech making time to appreciating "important" people in his life and those who worked for his success that culminated to the day's event.

Ojelabi said: "think it is the best to have a chairman who can identify and recognise his people. We thank you for praising important personalities, those who stood by you, those who aided you with necessary supports for what you have been able to achieve within the last 100 days in office. God Amighty will continue to be with you.

"I think a lot has been said by the Council Chairman and the Apex Leader regarding why we are here -- the importance of what we are celebrating today. My own is just to appreciate the people of Ayobo/Ipaja LCDA for coming out in large numbers; for believing in the philosophy of our party; for believing in our promise to you that this is our person, that this is the person we are putting forward to pilot the ship of Ayobo/Ipaja LCDA for the next four years. We made a covenant with you on behalf of Agbaje that even if you don't trust us, trust our party. Trust what our party has done in the past; trust what the Governor of Lagos State has done; trust what Asiwaju has done.

"And with that particular promise, you went out to cast your votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC). This culminated into assumption office by Dr. Lukmon Agbaje. Ayobo people: thank you, thank you and God will continue to be with you".

He went on to reveal how he personally conducted independent monitoring and saw the quality of jobs that went into construction of the roads Agbaje had done, recognising the Council Engineer for effective supervision that made it so.

He said: "There is a road I normally pass when I'm coming from Igando. I think last week or two weeks ago, I passed there. I saw a lot of interlocks on the road. I took my time pack to know whether the interlock (bricks) belong to an individual. I made an enquiry and I was told it's for a particular road and I told them to lead me to the place. I saw the road. Today, we are here to assess his works in the last 100 days.

I want to thank you on behalf of the party. I want to thank you on behalf of the Governor of Lagos State. I want to thank you on behalf of all of us, the State Executives of the party, that we gave you the opportunity to prove who you are. And within the past 100 days in office, you have been able to make an impact in the development of Ayobo/Ipaja LCDA. The God Amighty will continue to be with you.

I want to personally thank the Council Engineer. It's not an easy task to construct seven roads; seven! Solid roads with all the necessary facilities -- the drainage, interlocking and a host of other facilities that have been added to the road project. The Council Engineer, thank you and I want to say this is the beginning. The Council Engineer, if you felt the heart of the people, apart from giving glory to the Council Chairman, they will continue to pray for you and their prayers will be permanent in your life".

He highlighted the Agbaje's performances which were supposed to be the direct responsibility of the Federal Government. He noted how predecessor Federal Government before this Tinubu's had robbed Nigerians from benefitting good governance, adding that the correction of this anomaly is what the Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA) of President Tinubu is all about. Thus, by implication, he affirmed that the many projects being commissioned at the event, especially the delivery of electricity transformers and donation of two patrol vehicles to the Police, had direct bearing with the RHA.

Engr Taofik Lawal (middle), a hopeful APC LGA Chairman for Mosan/Okunola LCDA at the event

He said: "My people in Ayobo/Ipaja, let us give thanks to God. Let us thank God for having a Chairman who is compassionate about development. The provision of transformer is never the responsibility of government because power holding has been privatised. Those that are nurctunal human beings, who cannot walk in the day except night, are those who privatised the power holdings. They now put some trap clauses that will make it difficult for the new Federal Government to get it back easily. Since they sold it, they (buyers) have not added any tangible assets to enhance the provision of electricity.

Ten electricity transformer commissioned and distributed to the beneficiary communities.

We can see Agbaje who is very much concerned that he cannot be looking while his people suffer. Injecting ten transformers -- which, if not well thought out, a council cannot generate its revenue. But here is your Council Chairman: he gathered the peoples money -- pepper sellers' money, salt sellers' money, locus being sellers' money -- to make sure he gives these (transformers) to the people. Mr. Chairman, thank you and God will continue to be with you.

"Security is a collective responsibility. It belongs under the Federal Government. But he (Agbaje) has demonstrated something. Apart from the Federal Government striving to provide facilities for our security agents, he emulated a vision view of the Governor of Lagos State. Under security, we can see what the Governor is doing. Knowing the importance of security that if there is no security, there is no way he will also have a rest of mind to know what is this and that next to do. Mr. Chairman, I thank you for providing these vehicles to the Police to enhance their operations.

Vehicles commissioned and handed over to the Police and Environmental Taskforce under security and waste disposal policies.

"To our security agents, the Council Chairman has done his bits, the onus is on you to reciprocate by making sure that our people will be happy for your ability to respond to their distress call will encourage the Council Chairman to do more", Ojelabi said.