The Oniru of Iruland, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II, has said Iruland was committed to national, environmental and security development that would see to the overall growth and progress of not just Lagos State but Nigeria as a whole.
Speaking when the Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, paid him a courtesy call on Sunday, Oba Lawal explained that various developmental projects were already in place for the benefit of Iruland.
According to him, the need to maintain a healthy environment would on the long run translate to a generally healthy community, hence the importance of being committed to environmental development.
Oba Lawal disclosed that over the past few weeks, Iruland had carried out various exercises bothering on environmental awareness and development such as tree planting and the cleanup of the beach fronts in Iruland.
He said: “Mr. Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, I am very grateful and delighted that you are here all the way from Ekiti State.
“We see all that you are doing in your State and we feel the impacts here in Lagos State as well.
“It is a thing of joy that you have successfully played your part as a Governor in developing our nation.
“s Governors and Traditional Rulers, we are enjoined to play our parts in making the Nation great again.
“This is why, over the last few weeks here in Iru, we have been engaging in activities bothering around environmental development.
“We started with a tree planting exercise, where we distributed no fewer than 1,500 seedlings for coconut and other trees.
“We also did the beach cleanup, where we cleaned up waste from beach fronts all around Iru, which brings me to the issue of waste management.
“We need to promote the use of reusable bags as against single use plastic bags.”
Speaking further, Lawal stated that the security of the States’ Liaison Offices at the Oniru Beach Front was of optimum importance as the offices were old and dilapidated, hence they serve as hideouts for miscreants and hoodlums.
He said: “We have written to the Police and I would like you to use your Office as the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum to look into this.
“Let us see how the Palace can collaborate with those States because a lot of people come into this axis and their security should be our priority.
“We have a lot of financial institutions there, investors as well, so we need to redevelop those places.
“There is what we call land value capture in land economics, where properties of Government especially, that are not fit for purpose any more, but are strategically located, such properties can still be utilised in some way and it would generate a lot of impact and revenue still comes back to the owners of such properties.”
Oba Lawal stated that Governors and Traditional Rulers should be able to work hand in hand to bring security and environmental health to people in the community, hence traditional rulers should be included in governance apart from their traditional responsibilities.
The Oniru appealed to Governor Fayemi to support the call for giving traditional rulers a role in governance, adding that as traditional rulers, they were more informed about the communities’ needs and wants as they were like a grassroots government.
He added that Iruland always looked forward to regional integration with neighbouring States such that any development or project that is proposed is mostly welcome as they would have a positive impact on the national economy.
Speaking earlier, Fayemi expressed delight being at the palace of the Oniru, stating that he had no doubts in the abilities of the Oniru to deliver his optimum best to the people of Iruland.
According to Fayemi, Iruland was one of the primmest land economies in Nigeria and Oba Lawal was bound to leave it in a better state than he met it considering his many years of experience and projects that he has already started.
He said: I am extremely delighted to be here today.
“This is like a home to me.
“Kabiyesi has been my brother for years, the better part of the last three decades.
“We have been coming on this journey of progressive development in our communities so I am especially delighted that he has been chosen by our ancestors to continue in the path of our fathers in this very critical Community to Lagos and to Nigeria.
“I have no doubts in my mind that his period on the throne is going to be beneficial to our country.
“He is not just a progressive thinker, he is exposed, experienced and has an extensive knowledge of development at the local community and global level.
“He has received first class education in community development and he has network that will benefit this special community.”
He stated that issues concerning the Liaison Offices would be looked into by the NGF and everything would be done to ensure the security of the Beach Front.
Fayemi disclosed that he had been abreast of all the developmental projects and programmes that the Oniru had engaged in since he ascended the throne as such he is certain that Iruland was in the best of hands.
He said: “I pray that your reign continues to bring in more prosperity and peace to your people.
“Everything you lay your hands upon since your ascending the throne will prosper and yield positive results and may God take evil far away from you.
“In the little time I have spent with you, we have discussed nothing but the development of Iruland and you have very grand ideas on how to turn this place around already.
“I am delighted and excited at the opportunities that are staring us in the face with you as our royal father.”