Fashola Honours Dead Lawmakers

Two dead lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly literally resurrected Monday among their colleagues when the state Governor, Babatunde Fashola, informed the members of the House that he has concluded plans to immortalise them.

Governor Fashola in a letter read before the House of Assembly members stated that he had decided to rename the just completed Ojokoro and Igbogbo Housing estates scheme 2 in honour of late Olaitan Mustapha of the fifth Assembly and Rotimi Shotomiwa of the sixth Assembly respectively.

The letter signed on behalf of the governor by the state Commissioner for Housing, Bosun Jeje, and read by the House acting clerk, Ganiu Abiru, stated that the lawmakers contributed immensely to the development of the state and as a result should not be forgotten. The letter also said the wife of Hon. Mustapha, who is also late, would be immortalised.

The letter evoked joy and emotions as the lawmakers took out time to relive their experiences with their late colleagues. They thanked and prayed for the governor for taking such decision.

According to the lawmakers, the gesture had become a challenge to them to ensure that their input is felt on issues that have to do with the growth and development of the state.

Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who remembered with nostalgia his late colleagues, said they merited such honour.

According to the Speaker, the late Mustapha’s wife, whose name was given as Toun, ensured that her husband was a success during the fifth Assembly.

The Speaker said while the lawmaker was alive, his wife was always beside him, even at public functions.

Sanai Agunbiade, representing Ikorodu Constituency 1 thanked the state governor on behalf of the people of the division. Hon. Agunbiade said the state government had shown that it was responsive.

He added that when the people of Ikorodu division challenged the governor to immortalise the late Shotomiwa, “one would have thought the governor was not listening. But today, he has shown that he is a listening and responsive governor.

Another lawmaker representing a constituency in Badagry, Hodewu Avoseh Suru, in his reaction, said: “It gladdens my heart. I congratulate my colleagues because the government knows and recognises our contributions to the development of the state.

Hon. Rotimi Olowo, another lawmaker, explained that he was excited as this was the first of its kind in the state just as Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho said though those honoured by the government are no longer alive, their memories would continue to live in the hearts of Lagosians as a result of the gesture.

—Eromosele Ebhomele & Tosin Areo