Mushin Unsung Hero: Tribute to Hon. Emmanuel Olanrewaju Gbamigboye - 1
“Don’t judge a book by its cover”, can I ask anyone how well do they understand these 7 quoted words? Because, I didn’t realize its real meaning until recently that I decided to read Mushin Local Government Executive Chairman’s book. In fact, I can’t say the reading is thorough but I will say “scanning through” the book. The reason is because with what my scanning skill can cover, I can’t narrate, into details, my discovery…
If I can be critical to the development of my community, her
environment and most especially the welfare of her inhabitant, then I should be
able to say few things. Things to say now is not to criticize but a description
of exemplary character. If I may have to consider the extent of capability of
the said Chairman, in person of Hon. Emmanuel Olanrewaju Gbamigboye, what I can
understand was that due to system of style of choice of Leadership, the operational
mode and the well-known functionality of our Local Government system, then I wanted all of us to believe that, at the
moment, there are limitations to whatever intention the position can have in
development of our community, in that sense, I don’t expect anything that look
like “perfection”. Therefore, I may have
to close my eyes on weaknesses due the limitations but I wanted to focus on the
strengths. To the best of my knowledge, weaknesses is the product the above
mentioned three variables; Choice of Leadership, The Operational mode and
Functionality. On the other hand, the Strength which is my focus is the product
of Individual in the position of power, like the “Executive Chairman in local government”.
At the beginning of the first term of the sitting Chairman,
the way things are moving slow as if nothing is happening in our community
hence my reaction to criticize. I can understand, many people may misjudge me
but we can’t be silent on wrongdoings of the people in the position of power,
we must hold them accountable and I believe it is individual right to do. So,
in humbly and constructively manner, I call out the MLG, around December 2020,
why a very busy and essential road like LUTH (Lagos University Teaching
Hospital) road were left undone as deplorable as it was then, even the blind
knew that it needs rehabilitation. The response I got, which wasn’t an excuse
to me was that LUTH road was Federal Road. I was bittered because, the last
time I checked, none of the Federal Entity uses that road more than us, the
residents, the market women and men, male and female, young and old, the sick
and healthy etc. I mean all and all of us, regardless of tribe, religion or
education. How a hell can LG personnel give such flimsy excuse, to denied, such
importance road, in terms of Business, socially (other link roads that are
purely resident & population wise) and utility wise (that leads to such health
facility cum institution like LUTH) of rehabilitation? I am not against been misjudged, everyone has
right to his/her opinion and judgment but the truth is I criticize for very
important reason and the only intention behind that is the well-being of the residents
in our Mushin. Nothing more nothing less! The LUTH Road was later giving a
touch and was rehabilitated! By who? I don’t know… Thank you to the
FACILITATOR!
Before I delve into what trigger this offprint, I want us
know something about me; I don’t compare people. Because I believed in Yoruba
adage that said “ a kin fi omo we omo, ki a ma lukan pa”(the act of comparing
kids can lead to the hatred of one) and
“Omo eni ki se idi bebere ki a fi ileke si idi omo elomin” (we can’t beatify other’s children at the
expense of our own).
Now what triggers me? Few years ago, I heard about an Award
given to Hon. E. Gbamigboye as most outstanding the LG chairman. I am not aware
of the group/body that made our chairman “an Awardee” but the truth is I am not
comfortable, why because, I don’t think the so call award was deserving. That
is the trigger!
Then I started not only doing my findings but also silently
monitoring the MLG activities and the Chairman’s his behavioral attitudes. In
the course of that, I got a glimpse of his principle through some people that
work with him, from few of his response to them, what angers him and some other
discussion as were shared with in naivety. I can tell you here that everything I may
relate here is not only verified but also came naturally!
During my monitoring of events, the criticism attire was
getting faded till when the cloth of embracement was worn, then there’s
transformation of energy due to revelation of truth. Back to my first adage quoted, “a kin fi omo
we omo…….” Hon. Bamigboye might appear slow, yes! I wanted to believe that there
are “slow starters” in life, where their impact may not be quickly felt,
especially if the person is not an “hyping” type of person. That’s the kind of
our Chairman! If you don’t know…
Based on what I can found out and gathered, especially those
road projects I can see, I am astonishingly surprise. Mentioning and listing
his project here will definitely push me to several pages which I wouldn’t like
because, our audience might say “this is a paid job” but all I can say, is
that, “this is a conscience job”.
In the last few weeks, people have been using Ladipo road
new constructed brick road, I can estimate the road distance to be close to
525m in length, the type of road that are strong and extremely dimensionally
stable. When I saw the duration of completion of the very busy road, I can
phantom seriousness from a leader that consider the comfort of his people very
important, It was timely delivered!
The like of that was the Sebanjo Road in Papa Ajao, though
it is Asphalt furnished Road but with graded drainage that will support the
roads durability. Both roads I mentioned, looking at the economic viability of
the Area, the decision of Mr. Chairman is superb and it is masses oriented!
On the other residential and commercial front, I did visits
and counted up to 40 roads constructed with both bricks and asphalt ones
respectively, I stopped. But I was told by a very good friend of mine that it
is more than 40 roads project that was delivered by our able Chairman, Mushin
Local Government, Hon. Emmanuel Gbamigboye, truly you are working! May you live
long and enjoy the best of life.
For argument sake, I will mentioned few of where I visited both
in Mushin Ajina and Itire which anyone can go and verify:
Among Itire Projects; We have Ijaiye street, which is one of
the longest (about 510m) with Drainage, Ahmodu St., Kareem Taiwo, Tamoriatu
St., Okuribido St., Onitiri St., Fadairo st., Oduselu St., Solanke st.,
Olatunji st., Smith st. and some more…
From Mushin; Omodigbo st, Ibiosi st., Aregbe st. ,Akinwunmi
st., Adeoyo st., Oluyide st., Olufunmilayo st., and some more…These are roads
that we can’t term short distance Roads in terms of the length of each one in
meters.
He desilted more blocked drainage within Mushin and Itire more than any other Chairman known to in Mushin Ajina Local Government just to save our environment
Another surprising thing about Hon. Gbamigboye is that, none,
I mean none of these roads constructed, some with drainage and some without
drainage (those without newly constructed drainage were desilted) was flamboyantly commissioned. I love this about him.
The chairman humble model is; 1. the
award of the contract 2. the contractor
should deliver the contract in due time and
3. the people proceeded in using it. Basically, no fund wastage on
publicity of the common and useless song of “we are commissioning a project”.
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