…Oba oladega, community applauds sanwoolu for the construction of motorable approval
The ancient town of Agboyi in Kosofe Local Government of Lagos State has been agog with celebrations following the presentation of staff of office on July 4, 2022 by the state government to Oba Monsuru Abimbola Oladega as the Olu of Agboyi.
The Oba, who has decades of experience in private service, promised his subjects to rebuild the ancient city as he praised Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwoolu for approving the construction of the Agboyi Link Bridge.
The people of the kingdom are unanimous in their belief that his reign will usher in peace and development to the town.
Oba Ladega made this known at a press conference held at his palace on Friday, where he highlighted ongoing developmental projects in the community, the release of his staff by the Lagos State Government, and the peace and stability of the Agboyi Kingdom, among others.
Speaking with newsmen, Oba Ladega expressed delight at receiving his staff and instruments of office from the Lagos State Government 22 months after his approval as the monarch of the ancient town, noting that it was a great opportunity for him to continue with his good work.
He disclosed that his ascension to the throne of Olu of Agboyi Kingdom on August 20, 2020, had so far ushered in a new dawn in the areas of infrastructural development and social transformation, which had never been witnessed in the annals of the town.
He enumerated the projects and said chief among them is the approval of the Agboyi Link Bridge by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, which he noted would open up Agboyi Kingdom to massive infrastructural development and economic investment.
Oba Ladega further stated that he had been able to use his cordial relationship and goodwill with the political class to attract other laudable projects to the community, such as an ICT centre, the construction of a secondary school, Standard Jetty, a mini market, and a town hall.
According to Oba Monsuru Oladega, he persuaded the lawmaker representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, Hon. Prince Rotimi Agunsoye, to bring a fully-equipped ICT centre to the community while he wrote a letter to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to construct a secondary school in the town.
Oba Ladega also said that a standard jetty had commenced operation at Agboyi 3, while the federal government has promised to construct a town hall in the town.
“Since my installation as Olu of Agboyi Kingdom on August 20, 2020, I have achieved a lot, but before my emergence, the Agboyi Kingdom’s level of development was zero.
“I successfully convinced Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye to bring an ICT which had been commissioned. A water project constructed by Agboyi Ketu LCDA has been completed and will be commissioned very soon.
“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the construction of the Agboyi bridge. Work will commence there very soon and it’s going to bring very good development to Agboyi, “Oba Ladega enthused.”
He, therefore, appealed to the people of Agboyi Kingdom to join hands with him in his quest to propel the community to an enviable developmental level.
He said: “In Agboyi, we should love one another and we should be united. Before I became King, there were a lot of problems, but things have changed and everybody has come together.
“What I stand for is cooperation, peace, and unity. Owoyele is my father’s family. That’s where I came from. This is my mother’s place. My priority is to bring the Owoyele family together with other families in the Agboyi Kingdom. And I have done that. 95% is in support of my victory.”
On his part, the Asoju oba of Agboyiland, Chief Timothy Ishola Bankole, said the community was so joyful for the final release of the staff of the office.
He commended the monarch for the rapid development he had attracted to the community since his ascension in 2022.
“We are happy that it finally came at the time it came; that’s the beginning of further and great development that will come into the community very soon,” he said.
Also speaking, the Asiwaju of Agboyiland, Prince Abubakar Adewale Seriki, noted that since the ascension of the monarch to the throne, he has improved the social and economic development of the community.
He went on to say that the Oba has worked hard to facilitate the construction of a motorable bridge that will bring development to the island community.
The Assistant Secretary of Owoyele family, Prince Ibrahim Kehinde Oladega, praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for approving the construction of Agboyi Bridge while at the same time noting that the construction of the bridge was long overdue for an ancient town with a rich history and which is very close to Lagos Island.
He recounts that the primary school in the community was built by the Christian Missionaries in 1856, while Oba Akintoye sought refuge for five days in Agboyi in 1845 when deposed by the British.
The ace broadcaster appealed to the aggrieved party to sheath their swords and work amicably with Oba Ladega for the betterment of Agboyi Kingdom.