By Elias Abayomi Adagunduro
The newly coronated Asiwaju of Ibeshe Kingdom Asiwaju Kaoli Olatunji Olusanya has appealed to young persons in Ibeshe community and Nigeria at large that there is no point in ‘Japaing’ from the country for greener pastures, that we can collectively build the country we yearn for without being discriminated.
Newsconnect reports that the Chieftain of All Progressive Congress APC in Lagos made this passionate appeal to young persons at his coronation as Asiwaju of Ibeshe on Saturday 28th of December 2024 while addressing journalists.
Asiwaju said when you see a very poor community, the best you can give to them is not palliatives, it is not distribution of rice and butter, because it can’t take them any where.
He opined that if you give quality education to children of Mr Nobody at all, in a course of time, one, two, three among the children would emerge successful through their innate potentials.
Asiwaju Kaoli said they will be able to help to identify opportunity, and they will blossom. When they blossom, they are not the only beneficiary, the society entirely will benefit from it.
“Those Children could have been wasted, if they had no one to rely on for survival and mentorship. What gives me joy is the faces of young children , it gives me joy that I am in the position to help. I render help. I give scholarships right from primary school through their secondary school period of seven years with boarding, feeding them, clothing them.
“I know the impact of a role model in my own life, I know where I started from. I know when there was no body at all, but by the grace of God probably say Education, God and prayer of my mom, I am what I am. I want to give back to other children here, and thank God we have been seeing results.
“This community used to be hot beds of radicals, violence and cult activity in the day, shooting sporadically and running after each other.
“Overtime, it is reducing because we have someone influential identifying with them , somebody that is talking to them, somebody they can approach, who would listen and give some help.
“All forms of irrational behavior, unnecessary radicalism, would gradually phase-out. Thank God with resourceful people around, and for the business that is booming in Ibeshe. Ibeshe is now transforming to be the Apapa of Lagos, we are by water and a lot of businesses is on this water.
“We have dredging all around. Almost 40 percent of the sand that is used in construction in Lagos State comes from here and still continues to come. That is a blessing for us.
“We have container tankers, container terminals doing a lot of business here. On this coast line, you would see, ship fabricators those who build ships, they are here.
“A lot of businesses is emerging from here. It requires someone that will be in front, to galvanize resources, to pull people together, so that together we can give better hope and opportunity to people and attract government infrastructure that is what I accept as my responsibility of Asiwaju of Ibeshe.
“Working with other people here, working with resourceful people here, very endowed people. From the CDC, to the Iya Oloja people, to the baales, to the Erelu, to the youth organisations, to the student union, bring all of them together let us talk, what do you want ? What do we do ?
“Bottom top approach. We would ask young perons what they need and guide them to get what they want. That is how to build communities. It is this community that make the state, it is the community that make the nation. Let us go back to our own community and build peaceful, prosperity and give hope to people who are hopeless in the society and Nigerians will be better of for it.
“There is no point in ‘Japaing’ to anywhere, that place you are Japain into, some people toiled to build it. Let us also toil to build our own soil. Nobody will discriminate against my colour here that am black, no, we are all blacks.
“We are the same. If you Japa to anywhere, you are not part of them, they won’t accept you. So that is my message to our youth. Let’s come together, I am ready to put in more of my time, resources, and make this land a better place for all of us”. He said .
The 47 year old first son of Asiwaju of Ibeshe Kingdom Adebola Lukman Olusanya told journalists at the Coronation that his father has been selfless about given to Ibeshe for more than forty years, hence, he expects that is going to continue.
In his words, he said;
“Ibeshe is becoming a metropolitan state similar to what you see in Eti-Osa. The development is coming and Asiwaju is going to be at forefront of bringing that.
“My Dad is an advocate of raising quality education, students and building future champions. I expect that to continue as we bring more resources into this community, we are going to have more people coming, more schools and Infrastructure.
“I wish him long live. He is a man like no other. He is a selfless man, he is not moved by material things, he is not moved by ambition. If he was moved by ambition, he would have moved out of this place for a long time.
“I wish him all the happiness, he has sacrificed a lot over a long time, now that he is recognized, I want him to live long to enjoy that”. Lukman said.
The Senator Representing Lagos East Senatorial District Tokunbo Abiru joined well wishers to celebrate and felicitate with the new Asiwaju of Ibeshe Kingdom.
Abiru said;
“We strongly believe this is well merited. We celebrate with him and his wife, we pray God will grant him more life and health”.
Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon (GOS) told journalists at the event that;
“I think the people of Ibeshe have made a good choice in given him that Chieftaincy title, he has been a committed Community leader not only in Ibeshe but in Ikorodu division as a whole.
“He has been respectful and as people are saying, he has been very very diligent with his work. The only thing you can do to such person is to give him further responsibilities to spur him to do more and am sure he is going to do more.
“I thanked everyone that came to my 65th birthday, and I do promise them that I will do that, that they wish me to do, more.”. He said.
Honourable Babajimi Adegoke Benson, The lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives said Asiwaju of Ibeshe is a is a pragmatic person, he is somebody who is exposed, who always add value. He said this new title will push him further to do more.
His Royal majesty Oba Richard Abayomi Ogunsanya, the Olubese of Ibeshe along side HRM Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu and so many traditional rulers and political Stakeholders were present to celebrate him and give their solidarity support.