While every society has its heroes and villains, Ikorodu is fortunate to have some great minds, who genuinely seek the betterment of the division. At this point in history, while some selfish individuals are having a field day, there have been some ‘Ikorodu Fantastic Four’ who are changing the narratives.
They are intelligent, cute and wealthy, and have a lot in common. Their common passion for Ikorodu town is to bring glory and development to the town. These great men are pragmatists, who strongly believe in the progress of their beloved Ikorodu town and made it their priority to give everything at their disposal for the division. Interestingly, two of these ‘Ikorodu Fantastic Four’ are not politicians, while the other two were established before they found themselves in politics.
High Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya, the billionaire young chap of Ikorodu, before his becoming the Odofin of Ikorodu, had passion for the town. When he was named the Odofin of Ikorodu, people thought he may not have time for the traditional role. This hitherto was based on the fact that Adewunmi is a billionaire, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and a successful businessman. Unknown to many, he has strong passion for his community and would not spare anything to helping his hometown.
Even before becoming the Odofin, Adewumi had sponsored football clubs, where he engages young talented athletes in the division. Quietly, he has been giving scholarships to indigent students. Quietly he has been supporting security outfits in Ikorodu. Unknown to many, High Chief Adewumi Ogunsanya has vowed to help eradicate poverty in Ikorodu. In line with his humanitarian programme, he has been supporting security framework of Ikorodu, initiating support programme for indigent families and sponsoring grassroots groups. Recently, he initiated empowerment funds for struggling families and started right from the palace, spreading it across the town.
Another wealthy prominent son of Ikorodu is Otunba Steve Adewale Anifiwoshe, the Asiwaju of Ikorodu designate. He is a Pharmacist of repute, who runs two pharmaceutical companies in the United States of America. Though he stays most of the times in the United States, Steve shuttles between Lagos and the USA. Otunba Steve Anifowoshe is a kind fellow, who chose to quietly contribute his quota to his community. Most times, he does not blow his trumpet; he prefers to give and sponsor people on a low key. Otunba Steve has contributed a lot to the development of Ikorodu. For instance, during the covid-19 lockdown, he personally made provisions available for vulnerable families in Ikorodu. Sources close to Oriwu Sun confirmed that Steve Anifowoshe will be relocating to Nigeria and has vowed to bring development to Ikorodu.
No wonder the Kabiyesi, HRM the Ayangburen has decided to confer the coveted title of Asiwaju of Ikorodu on Otunba Steve Anifowoshe. Though, many in Ikorodu may not be aware of his humanitarian activities in Ikorodu, the Kabieyesi has records and trusts Steve to help bring more development to the division.
The third man on the list is no other than our Jimmy Benson. The young man who has earned himself beautiful monikers like, “the miracle boy”, the wonder boy”, “Mr. I-care”, has taken Ikorodu by surprise for good. Honourable Babajimi Benson is one of the contemporary who is changing the poor political narratives set by old corrupt politicians. Since his emergence as a political figure, he has been a reference point in many regards. Since he stepped into politics seven years ago, he has marked a path and established his name as an unusual politician, who has aggressively made efforts to bring succor to his people. No grassroots politician has surpassed his record in terms of infrastructural development, education, security and peoples’ welfare.
For Jimi Benson, what is of utmost importance and ranked top of his priority list is how to bring glory and development to Ikorodu division. In terms of infrastructure, he has constructed more than ten roads in Ikorodu, rehabilitated many schools and established a food bank from where he gives food to the elderly people. For Jimi Benson, every second is all about improving Ikorodu division, as he is constantly exploring means to alleviate pain and poverty. He has set a new record and marked a new starting point for politicians. Jimi Benson’s type of politics is a different ball game. His activities is bringing a sharp contrast with what corrupt old politicians have been doing. Before his time, other politicians were concerned with amassing wealth for themselves, calling themselves honourables, collecting cash gifts from Lagos, fighting for party supremacy. Even when they are in their 60s and 70s, they still parade themselves as party leaders and care about no one.
These politicians don’t give a damn about the community other than enriching themselves, buying flashy cars, building mansions in choice areas and philandering. Someone jokingly said, ‘These old corrupt politicians prefer to take their wealth to heaven when they die.’ Jimi Benson, has established himself as a game changer and has attracted admiration from many quarters in the community.
For this, the Oriwu Sun has decided to bestow the prestigious ‘life Time Achievement Award’ on Jimi for his selfless services to the people of Ikorodu.
In the last thirty six years of the Oriwu Sun newspaper, the doyen community newspaper has never given any individual such honour, but, Jimi Benson has earned it.
The Oriwu Sun board of management will finalise the award modalities soon. The good thing about Jimi Benson is that this young man has made his money before occupying political office. Yet, he did not allow greed nor selfish impulse blind his judgment. Unlike some politicians, who had nothing before assuming public office, Jimi is contented. Some politicians were mere teachers, artisans, traders before engaging in politics. They amassed wealth from public office, abandoned their community and instead, lavish the wealth on themselves and their families.
Lastly, another proud son of Ikorodu on the list, is the brilliant banker, former Managing Director of Polaris Bank, a onetime Lagos State Commissioner for Finance and now, a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Senator Tokunbo Mukhail Abiru came into politics last year and contested to represent this senatorial district and won.
He had made money before coming into politics through hardwork and lacked nothing. Again, he has been contributing to the development of Ikorodu, quietly. During the covid-19 lockdown, Senator Tokunbo Abiru spent fortunes, from his personal purse, buying palliatives for indigent families in Ikorodu division. .
Since he assumed office as Senator, he has drawn out a roadmap for development not only in Ikorodu but also for the people of Lagos East Senatorial District. Like Jimi Benson, Abiru has plans on bringing the dividends of democracy to Ikorodu people by applying various empowerment programmes, security programmes, giving scholarships to students and cater for indigent families.
Very soon, he will be commissioning a block 24 classrooms in the Aga area of Ikorodu. Ikorodu has never had it so good with politicians like Jimi Benson and Senator Tokunbo Abiru.
From our close contact with Mikhail Tokunbo Abiru a long time ago, when he was announced as the senate hopeful, we had no doubt that he would perform. He is a brilliant young chap, articulate and knows his onions, and most importantly, he is someone who cannot be pushed around. He told people during his campaign that his primary aim is bringing development to the town. Ever since he took over the mantle of office, he has not disappointed both in Ikorodu and outside the division.
Senator Abiru and Jimi Benson are now politicians and some would think they sponsored this article. On the contrary, they, including the other two personality, know nothing about this article and have nothing to do with it. We decided to write this feature because these men are Ikorodu icons other politicians and individuals must emulate.
Our politicians must find intellectuals to represent us, rather than projecting imbeciles to rule over us. One thing our political leaders must realise is that nothing lasts forever. There acquired wealth, fame, influence will end someday. One day, all these material wealth they acquired illegally, someone will come and recover and retrieve from them, like we are seeing in Nigeria today.