EJIGBO LCDA Boss, Hon. MONSURU OLOYEDE BELLO Opens Up

• Why He Is Making Waves

The name Honourale Monsuru Oloyede Bello who many people love to call “Obe” needs no introduction in Ejigbo and its environs. He is the executive chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area within the Oshodi-Isolo local government area in Lagos State. The name is more of a household name that people are pleased with. It is a name they hold in high esteem and love to chant whenever they see him around. He is so much loved by all and sundry in the community.

A few days ago, the media space was flooded with pleasant news coming from the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area. It was the commissioning ceremony of the Ifoshi road, the longest and most strategic inner road in the community. The road has been in a deplorable state for the past 26 years and commuters have gone through pains and agony trying to navigate their way around the road which connects Ejigbo and its neighbourhood. The completion of the road has no doubt brought huge relief to the people. No wonder, when the news broke that the newly rehabilitated road was up for commissioning, the people of the community were rejoicing as they anticipated the ease of movement they would now be enjoying once the road is open for use.

The man behind the rehabilitation of Ifoshi road is the executive chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, Honourable Oloyede Bello. He has ensured the road project was completed in due course and its commissioning was done in grand style. His choice of inviting the Oni of Ife, His Royal Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi to commission the road for use is a big statement and it lifted the event greatly. The ceremony was unprecedented and remains talk of town for months. Indeed, Honourable Oloyede has raised the bar so high that his successors would need to roll up their sleeves to match up with him.

Just 3 months back, the community witnessed the official commissioning of an ultra-modern building called Ajaloleru Akinsanya Primary School in Oke-Afa, directly opposite the January 27, 2012 bomb blast cenotaph. The occasion was also another top-notch event which was attended by top dignitaries across all walks of life. The school is a beauty to behold as it was equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. Its structure and design would favourably compete with that of any top private school around.

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat came in person to unveil the school and commission it for use. In his address, he explained that the school is being commissioned due to the demand of the people of Ilamoshe for a public primary school to reduce the stress that the children go through in accessing education, noting that there is no single public primary school within the ward, thereby making the children trek a long distance before accessing government education. The Deputy Governor stated that the newly commissioned government-owned school in the local environs will protect the kids from traffic accidents while crossing the road, adding that the school can compete better than many private schools within the area with the possibility of affordability by the parents. Hamzat, however, urged the people of Ilamoshe to take ownership of the newly constructed edifice and ensure that it is kept safe for the children. While commending the LCDA Chairman, Hon. Monsuru Oloyede Bello, the Deputy Governor thanked the Chairman for being innovative and charged him not to relent. The Ejigbo community will forever be grateful to him and he will be remembered for his integrity.

A lot of projects have been done by the council chairman and more are still near completion. Within a few months that he would be leaving office, there are still many projects which are near completion and would soon be up for commissioning.

The commitment and doggedness of the chairman has earned him the nickname “Mr. Project” for touching virtually every aspect of the 6 wards that made Ejigbo LCDA for good. He has laid quite a number of legacy projects that can stand the test of time.

Honourable Oloyele has done so well to the extent that the Oni took time to extol his administration for taking up a state-owned road and rehabilitating it to standard. What the Chairman has done is a testament to what  the President plans to achieve at the grassroots if the state government could grant the local government full financial autonomy. The highly revered traditional ruler thanked him for bringing development to the grassroots. He charged other states and the local government to take a cue from this.

The council Boss took the bold step by taking the bull by the horn with the reconstruction of the road since the beginning of his second term in office. Most of the constituents which include the traditional leader religious, political, community leaders and many more have expressed their quantum joy about this development and are showering praises on the Chairman (Obe) for another facelifting projects that has transformed the state of the Ifoshi road for good and several others such as: Iyalaje estate, Moshalashi road, Dauda Ilo road, council Secretariat, Primary Health Centers, Primary Schools and many more.

Residents, Commuters and drivers are already basking in euphoria as promises made to fix the road have come to reality. Residents who visited to the site of construction couldn’t hold back their quantum joy. Leaders of the Community Development Committee (CDC) in their remarks described the Ejigbo LCDA Chairman as a quintessential leader and emancipator of his community. The Committee Chairman, Prince Jelili Atiku, said Obe is an icon in politics who personifies loyalty and good governance at the grassroots. According to him, the council boss is a leader with the managerial skill that has aided him in coordinating and guiding human and material resources to record greater achievements in previous years.

Atiku disclosed that Obe’s performances which are obvious across the council area, all the 110 Community Development Associations (CDAs) have won him the love and affection he is getting. He pointed out Obe’s achievements in the areas of infrastructure development, education, health, agriculture, empowerment, peace and security and more.

Jamiu Abubakar

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