Hon Kasunmu Holds Constituency Stakeholders Meeting

MICHAEL AKINOLA

The lawmaker representing Ikeja Constituency 2 and the Chairman, House Committee on Lands, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Adedamola Richard Kasunmu, (ARK), on Thursday 29th October, 2020, held a Constituency Stakeholders Meeting.

The meeting, which took place at the Eko FM Multipurpose Hall, LTV 8 Premises, Lateef Jakande Way, Agidingbi, Ikeja, had the theme “Post Covid-19 Pandemic: The Challenges and Prospects”.

Hon. Bunmi Oluyadi, the Vice Chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area, who was the Chairman of the event, set the ball rolling with a short address. In his address, he highlighted the importance of the meeting and the need for the Constituents to rub minds with their representatives on salient issues for the good of all.

The Chief Host, Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu, ARK, in his keynote address, hinted that the meeting was created to interface between the people and the Government particularly the Parliament, which serves as the eyes, nose and ears of the people.

He said that the meeting affords the representatives the opportunity to inform the people about Government policies and programmes while the Constituents are expected to make inputs and equally list Infrastructural and social amenities required in their various communities for attention and implementation by the Government, particularly for inclusion in the budget of the coming year.

Going by the theme of the meeting, Hon. Kasunmu said that it was imperative to discuss the effects of Covid-19 on the lives of Constituents and businesses and equally plan ahead looking at Post-Covid-19 with the attendant challenges and prospects.

The vibrant and young Lawmaker posited that it would be out of place if he fails to mention the recent disaster that struck Lagos State within the last two weeks and the efforts made by the Lagos House of Assembly to avert it.

He said that it was painful that rather than allow the successes achieved by the Lagos Assembly to be fully implemented some miscreants hijacked the protest and decided to take laws into their hands, unleashing mayhem on the State by destroying the means of livelihood of citizens along with significant number of private and government properties.

Hon Kasunmu, while sympathizing with those who have lost persons and properties, appealed for calm. He assured that the Assembly, aside setting up an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate all that happened, has urged the State Government to consider compensating the victims of the tragedy. He also admonished the youths to shun violence, apply tact and embrace dialogue.

“Despite the undesirable crescendo of the protests which rocked our State and other parts of the country last week, one major takeaway from it is that, there’s great hope for our country Nigeria if the people of my generation can sincerely come together and form a united, positive and patriotic coalition. But we need tact, insight and more wisdom to achieve this.”

“Being a youth and a former Chairman, House Committee on Youth, Sports and Social Development, my support for the #EndSARS protest ab initio was total and it was in conformity with the position of the Lagos State House of Assembly, which passed a timely resolution recommending the dissolution of SARS even before the Federal Government acted. As a matter of fact, I personally made several placards with various inscriptions expressing support for the demands of the protest in preparation to join the protest before things went awry. It’s indeed unfortunate that such a peaceful and innovative protest was hijacked by enemies of good things, who unleashed coordinated terror on our state” Hon ARK said.

The Stakeholders Meeting was equally an opportunity for the Chairman of House Committee on Lands to reel out some of his achievements in the last one year.
In his capacity as Chairman, House Committee on Lands, he has been involved in various land dispute resolutions across the state and equally carried out oversight functions to a number of Government schemes across board. He has also been actively involved in the law making processes through insightful contributions on the floor of the House, which often forms part of the resolution of House like that of the Market Board.

Hon Kasunmu hinted that aside purchase of GCE forms for 200 students, 1000 school girls benefitted from the ARK Education Enhancement Initiative.
A number of Constituents won various cash prizes and trophy during the ARK 8-Legend Ball Snooker Competition held at Presken Hotel, Ikeja, which he sponsored 100%.Ten youths from Ikeja Constituency 2 were also sponsored by the Hon ARK to participate in Ibile Youth Academy Leadership Training. One of them, Miss Yewande Oseni, emerged as one of the finalists and currently representing Lagos State as Deputy Divisional Youth Ambassador.

The lawmaker facilitated the employment of a good number of Constituents and the empowerment of five vulcanizers including two barbers.It is on record that Hon Kasunmu equally facilitated the repair of Aina Street (Ojodu), Odozi Street (Ojodu), Ogunlowo Street (Ikeja), Mojidi Street (Ikeja) and a number of others.

The sum of N25m was reportedly spent by the energetic Lawmaker in his response to the needs of the Constituents towards cushioning the effects of Covid-19. He produced and distributed 5,000 units of 250Ml hand sanitizers and 5, 000 high quality nose masks. He also purchased and distributed food palliatives in three phases.

Under the ARK Covid-19 Cash Support, over 500 Constituents benefitted from direct cash transfer in sums ranging from a minimum of N5,000 to N50,000 during the lockdown period aside the production and distribution of enlightenment and awareness materials. The young representative also spent about N5.6m within the period under review to financially support Constituents in different areas.In September, 2020, he initiated the process of drilling boreholes in four locations within the Ikeja Constituency 2 (Ipodo, Ojodu, Yakoyo & Anifowoshe). 

Hon Kasunmu used the opportunity to thank his Constituents for their support and promised that more will be seen in the coming days in the area of infrastructure and services to the people.

The meeting attracted different stakeholders in Ikeja Constituency 2, the Regent of Ikejaland, Traditional and Religious Leaders, Ikeja APC Vice Chairman, Prince Oluranti Olufon, Chief Atinsola from Ojodu, Ikeja CDC Chairman, Alhaji Osinberu, Ojodu CDC Chairman, Iyaloja of Ikeja, APC Chieftains from Ikeja LGA & Ojodu, Hon Edward Aragbonfoh led Forum of Past Councillors, Comrade Tayo Aderinola, who equally anchored the meeting, Ikeja Legislative leader -Hon Adetoro, other Honourable Councillors and many other Constituents.