The All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State Chapter, on Thursday, 21st September 2022 paid a condolence visit to Ibeshe community, a riverine area in Oriade Local Council Development Area, over the death of 19 indigenes of the community on July 8, in a boat accident at Mazamaza end of Mile 2 inland waterway channel.
The chairman of the party, Hon Cornelius Ojelabi, who was accompanied on the visit, to the community by a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess (Mrs) Sarah Adebisi Sosan(OFR), Chairmen of all councils in the Badagry Division and some State Executive Members of APC, delivered a letter of Sympathy on behalf of Lagos APC to the Ovori of Ibeshe Kingdom,H.R.M. ,Oba( Dr) Gausu Alani Rasak and the Head Of Jimoh Aloso Family, the bereaved family,Chief Musbau Jimoh.
Hon Ojelabi, While at the palace of Ovori of Ibeshe, where a mammoth crowd of indigenes of the community,led by chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area,Hon(Chief) Mrs Ramotalai Akinlola-Hassan was on ground to welcome the delegation, stated that the news of the death of 19 innocent men, women and children of Ibeshe in the boat mishap of 8th July got to APC ,as a political party in Lagos State,as a big shock, and the fact that the incident claimed the lives of all the passengers on board the ill-fated boat makes their hearts bleed.
The party chairman informed the Oba and indigenes of Ibeshe, that, they are sad that the incident occurred at a time when the state government is doing everything to improve water transportation and make Lagosians travel safely on water.
” As the ruling party in the state that is desirous of encouraging water transportation as another means of commuting,we will impress it on the, government to ensure strict enforcement of safety laws to forestall a reoccurrence of the sad event”,Hon Ojelabi further stated.
The party chairman also appealed to boat passengers to ensure they put on life jackets when traveling on the waterways, adding that lifejackets enable passengers to remain afloat in case there is an accident.
The party chairman informed the Oba and the people of Ibeshe, that,APC as a progressive and the ruling party in Lagos State found it mandatory to pay the sympathy visit to Ibeshe community, because people of the community have been a progressive politically,since 1999, and they still remain a progressive till today.
He commended the Lagos State Water Ways Authority (LASWA) and Lagos Ferry Services Company (LAGFERRY) for earlier paying condolence visits to the community over the boat mishap and for their relentless efforts in ensuring that the water transportation system is safe, reliable and viable in Lagos State.
Hon Ojelabi concluded by praying to God to give the bereaved family, people and Oba of Ibeshe, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Earlier,while welcoming the party chairman and others to Ibeshe community, chairman of Oriade LCDA,Hon Akinlola-Hassan expressed her appreciation to Princess (Mrs) Sarah Adebisi Sosan,a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, for the visit and her show of affection to the people of Ibeshe, the party chairman and other executive members of the party, and the chairmen of all the local governments and local councils developments areas in the Badagry Division, who accompanied the leadership of APC,on the condolence visit.
The council chairman also expressed her appreciation to all leaders of APC in Oriade LCDA and Amuwo-Odofin Local Government, for standing by the people of Ibeshe community during the sad period.
She equally laid emphasis on the need for boat operators and passengers to adhere to all safety rules and regulations guiding waterway transportation, particularly the use of lifejackets by passengers when traveling on the waters.
Among other dignitaries who accompanied Lagos APC Chairman on the sympathy visit,were, the Vice Chairman,West Senatorial District of Lagos APC,Chief Aboyade Babatunde,Vice Chairman, Central Senatorial District,Lagos APC, Alhaji Daramola Abayomi, State Organising Secretary, Lagos APC, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, State Welfare Secretary, Otunba Adeniyi Kehinde.
Others were, Member,Lagos State House Of Assembly,representing Ojo Constituency 2,Hon. Surajudeen Tijani, former member,Lagos State House Of Assembly Amuwo-Odofin Constituency 1,Hon. Dipo Olorunrinu,APC Candidate for Lagos House Of Assembly, Constituency 1,Mr Segun Ege, former chairman of Ojo local government, Alhaji Isiak Ajakaiye and all members of Executive Committee of Oriade LCDA.
