THE PLIGHTS OF BISHOP KODJI

By Blessing Oladunjoye

For a first time visitor, the journey to Bishop Kodji community in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government can be considered to be risky and tedious as the only way to access the community is through water. Though the community is in a city, it can still be seen as a remote village. Bishop kodji, a riverine community is inhabited by the Eeguns.

The difficulty in accessing the community arose the imagination that social infrastructures will be at the rarity. This imagination was confirmed on getting to the community when it was ascertain that there is no social infrastructure in the community. 

The community does not have portable water, though it’s surrounded by water, neither is there power supply because the community is not even wired at all. The absence of quality education which is the best legacy can be felt in the community as children of school age are seen hawking about. The health care facility in the community is as good as not having any because it is not functioning effectively.

With the population of the residents of the community going to 80,000, there is no school, electricity, portable water, healthcare facility above all road to access the community and others.

Speaking on behalf of the residents, the Baale of Bishop Kodji, Chief Fewanu Felix requested for a secondary school adding that the two primary schools available in the community is suitable for the population of the pupils.

Reacting to this, a teacher in Bishop Kodji Community Nursery and Primary school said the community does not need a secondary school because the parents do not regard education as being essential. She noted that parents prefer to send their children hawking than sending them to school adding that if the foundation is not good, there won’t be need for advanced learning.

In the schools available in the community, there are no enough classrooms to accommodate the students; those that have chosen to go to school instead of hawking. There are just four teachers in a school of 462 pupils and classes had to be merged to ensure that the students are fixed to a class with a teacher. It was noted that the education situation of the community can change to a better one if the parent are made to see the value of education and also putting necessary facilities in place to enhance effective learning for the students.

Just as the state of education in Bishop Kodji is nothing to write home about, so also it is with the availability of portable water. Though the community is surrounded with water, it is saddening not to find water suitable for domestic use and drinking. It is a very serious and risky business to get water for the use of the residents. The women go to UNILAG to get water in GP tanks in order to sell it to other residents. A 25litres gallon of water is being sold for #50, hence, an average family spend a minimum of #200 on water every day.

The sight of borehole which was provided by the Local Government chairman in order to get water for the residents cannot be denied, but it has not been functioning for a very long time. The 5Kv generators which was provided to power the borehole have not been fueled by the community residents, thus, leaving them to the only option of buying water.

With the high cost of getting portable water, residents have decided to get water for domestic use from the river near them. It should be noted that it is not safe for them because they defecate and dump refuse into the same water.

It is with the greatest desire that the residents of Bishop Kodji requested for a good school that will enhance the course of learning for their children, functioning boreholes that will make them to reduce the money being spent on water, good healthcare facility which will help to limit the dangers that most people are exposed to when they cannot access good treatment. Power supply is also needed as they are always in darkness.

Though the residents do not see anything wrong in their population, but preventive measures on family planning and girl-child education should be made important within the community as there is high rate of teenage pregnancy. The population available do not have suitable facilities to live in a healthy community much less adding to the population on a daily basis.

The Lagos state government should endeavour to make this people access dividends of democracy as they are also voters and residents in the state.

 

15 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY: WHAT GAINS FOR THE MASSES

Fifteen years of democratic rule in Nigeria has not in any way been beneficial to the masses.

This was the submission of the Chairman of a political movement, Atayese, Dr Adeolu Olusodo while discussing the gains of the masses after 15years of democracy in Nigeria.

 

 Dr Olusodo who identified Local Government Council as the nearest arm of government to the people said the arm has not been up and doing in its tasks to the masses, adding that the state is taking most of the responsibilities of the local government, hence, dividends of democracy is not evenly shared among all and sundry.

 

As inclined in the 1999 constitution, Dr Olusodo identified the major functions of a local government council as making recommendations to a state commission on economic planning or any similar body; establishment of homes for the destitute; provision of public conveniences, amongst others. He spoke further that the local government council has not been doing all these, and when they do, citizens are being levied for it.

 

Speaking, the General Secretary, Lagos Marginalized Communities Forum, Agbodemu Ishola Musibau said though there is nothing to account for after 15years of democracy, yet, citizens have been doing as if they are well pleased adding that they have not risen to the task of demanding for their rights.

 

Referring to the havoc caused by a democratic government a day preceding the democracy day, Agbodemu shared the plight of the residents of Makoko as their houses were demolished. He added that how could those people have said to have gained from the democratic rule.

 

Speaking on the way forward, Dr Femi Akinlade said the reason there is no solution to the problems in this country is because everybody wants to find solution to his/her problem instead of finding solution together as one.

He thereby enjoined everyone present at the event, which was used to mark the democracy day 2014 to co-operate and jointly work towards finding solutions to the problems facing this nation.

2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS: THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA

2015 will not be a demise of Nigeria, as many opines, instead it will be an offshoot of a better Nigeria.

This was the submission of Dr. Tajudeen Yussuf at the annual symposium of the Muslims Student Society of Nigeria, NIJ chapter which was held at the Institution’s auditorium.

While discussing the topic: 2015 in introspect: the road map, Dr. Yussuf urged Nigerians to avoid tribal sentiments and vote with their conscience, adding that the media should be up and doing in their task.

Explaining how the role of the media in the 2015 general election is very essential, Mr Abdulhakeem Isola of Silverbird Television identified public trust, integrity and truth as what media professionals should imbibe themselves in, as the trio is what sells the industry.

Mr Jubril Folami of Lagos State Television said the new media which has come to stay will enable journalists to perform their duties more effectively during the elections as there will be no restrictions to their publications.

In his speech, the Producer Sunrise Daily, Channels Television, Mr. Suleimon Eldhee said though Nigeria is in a critical period presently, there is need for every Nigerian to stand to play their role in restructuring this country.

In his closing remarks, the Amir of the MSSN, NIJ, Adeoye Abdulhakeem advised his colleagues to be full of integrity and honesty which will bring the best out of them in the profession.