the Administration in November 2013. All these programmes were clearly and vigorously pursued with all sincerity of purpose and we have been able to achieve them in due course inspite of the bottle necks here and there.

 

We started this year’s activities by laying the foundation stone of our CDA Secretariat/ Community Hall on the 23rd of March 2014. Then the construction proper to lintel level as you can see. The purpose behind this, is to be able to stand as a serious minded and formidable Organization that will continuously stare the beam of development as and when due without fading away at all for any reason whatsoever, hence a place of our own.

 

We followed this up by conducting our 1st CDA Enlightenment Seminar on the 30th of March 2014, where the ever energetic CDC Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government. Alh. Lukman Shonibare and our Amiable HOD Agric and Rural Development Ikorodu Local Government duly educated so many of our members on the meaning, objectives and values of the CDA/CDC and it was very successful as well as memorable being the first of its kind in Ikorodu Local Government Certificate of Participation were also issued to members present at the occasion.

 

On the big issue of security, we all know how secured we are as a people not to say otherwise, therefore, we recognized this danger and engaged the services of 13 security personnel on a monthly salary of N22,000 each amounting to N286,000 every month since April 2014 and many other achievements are as listed on the preface of the AGM pamphlet.

 

As you can see in the financial report, revenue is not meant to be accumulated in the bank but to be spent on developmental projects and people oriented issues as and when due, so that the community at large can be better for it. Base on this cogent reason, I sincerely implore you, distinguished Community members to always pay your dues/levies regularly for that is the only thing that can sustain development in the life of any community.(CDA)

 

MOTIVATION: As it is commonly said that “Motivation is the Mother of Performance”, while thanking the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN for recognizing us as the 5th Best CDA in Lagos State, We are also using this opportunity to say that the CDAs are the grassroot and the reason why government exit at all. Therefore, they (CDAs) need to be more motivated to the extent that other communities without CDAs will buckle up and there will be developmental competitions and the whole of Lagos State especially the rural communities will be better for it.

 

This is a very important catalyst of development (Motivation) also explain the reason behind the various Awards given to deserving and committed individuals and zone that have excelled one way or the other without any reservation to the advancement of the community and the society at large. It will remain a monumental symbol of honour in the lives of the Awardees and their families as well as the zone that comes out first of the seven zones of the CDA.

 

Most importantly, Hon. Commissioner and Mr. Chairman, this address will not be complete without mentioning the ingredients that are encapsuled in our “Driving Force” which can be nothing other than integrity, commitment to duty and service, love for others, willingness and genuine ability to perform, above all, inherent passion for community development. In the absence of all these necessary ingredients, we wouldn’t have been able to go this far in the face of very! Very!! few corrupt individuals in the community just as it is everywhere, who constituted themselves to be enemies of progress, character assassins, reputation killers, pathological liars, negativity engineers, financial mosquitoes, scion of disunity and embodiment of bad influences who refused to pay their dues/levies and also encouraged few others not to pay for no just reasons. However, we were able to surmount these dishonourable characters of human history and gross abuse of moral values by the grace of God almighty through the power embedded in the “TRUTH” and “INTEGRITY”.

 

Community leaders here present, I want to encourage you that dignity and proper development can only be achieved through absolute integrity, sincerity of purpose and always stand on the truth no matter what.

It may interest you to know that we never failed to submit our monthly financial report to the offices of the HOD, Agric and Rural Development and CDC Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government as well as interested members since the inception of this administration for proper scrutiny and also for record purposes.

 

As you are all aware, getting people to pay their dues & levies still remain a difficult “Nut to Crack”, from this reason, we have always been in and out of police stations to settle issues orchestrated by these few recalcitrant members. Knowing fully well that we run CDA on a part-time bases without salary or allowances, instead, we spend our hard earned money often and often. This time consuming occurrences affect our means of livelihood as we have to abandon our various offices to attend to all these issues as the need arises. As a results of this anomaly, the human resources component of the CDA Administration is fast diminishing, therefore, I am passionately appealing to the Lagos State House of Assembly, CDC/CDAC and the Executive Governor of Lagos State to please amend the CDA Laws, in order to protect the Executive Committee and Enforcement Groups of various CDAs from unnecessary attack, embarrassment and unwarranted abuse in the course of serving the community. If not quickly addressed, the future of CDAs in Lagos State may not be guaranteed because some people still see the CDAs as a voluntary organization that cannot be enforced on all residents and yet, they want to continue enjoying the facilities provided by the CDAs.

 

While bearing the heat of the moment to move the ship of development forward, I want to sincerely thank my predecessor, my Oga, my dear friend and of course, a man of impeccable character Mr. Frank Jibunoh, whose integrity encouraged me a lot. Having presided over the affairs of this CDA for six years, he honourably led so many others to prevail on me to accept the leadership of this community in the last election and he has always been my pillar of support.

 

I am particularly delighted to say a big thanks to all members of my Exco, for their unflinching support and loyalty within the last one year as well as the HOD Agric and Rural Development and the CDC Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government for their discoveries of an appreciable degree of uniqueness in our conducts as a CDA and most especially, my style of leadership which they never failed to make reference to anywhere, anytime where it is necessary, no matter what. I also thank the CDC Exco, Ikorodu Local Government.

 

Lastly, I thank all the good people of Papa Agura CDA whose financial and kind contributions made this day possible, I pray that God in his infinite mercy will continue to replenish your pockets all year round.

I am also using this opportunity to call upon those members who have committed one error or the other to please come and redeem their image and turn a new leaf, so that we can move this notable ship of honour to greater height together in peace and harmony for the journey has just began.

 

Thank you all and God bless.

 

PAPA AGURA O NI BAJE O!

IKORODU O NI BAJE O!

EKO O NI BAJE O!