By LaRoyal: 

In the spirit of the thank you tour, Dr. Builder Adeola Adebisi Banjo, former Council Chairman, Ikorodu-North LCDA and his entire cabinet have visited the All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State Party Chairman, Hon. Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi at the APC State Party Secretariat, Acme, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria with the gratitude gifts and the Ikorodu-Division and Ikorodu-North APC Party Chairman, Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani popularly known as “Otunba Teejay” yesterday, August 25th, 2025 at the Ikorodu-North LCDA APC Party Secretariat to appreciate his positive impact on leadership. 

This thank you tour signifies his appreciation of their valuable guidance and contributions during his tenure in office. 

After the introductory speech made by Prince Niyi Odugbesi, immediate past Secretary to the Local Government (SLG), Dr. Banjo, in his gratitude speeches at the presentation of the frame to the APC Lagos State Party Chairman, Hon. Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, and the Ikorodu-North LCDA Party Chairman, Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani, said his visitation is not only a moment of presentation; it is a moment of gratitude, honour, and truth.

“I so much appreciate you Chairman, Sir” for giving fresh breath to the dream we inherited. You have not only chaired our party; you have carried its spirit. You reached backwards with honour, pressed forward with purpose, and in your steps, we have seen the dream of our founding fathers preserved, strengthened, and made new.

Where others merely kept the flame, you gave it direction. Where others recited the creed, you made it credible again. You did not seek power for applause, but for transformation — especially for those at the grassroots, the builders of everyday Nigeria. Because of your labour, we stand taller. Because of your example, we walk straighter.

Chairman, you have been more than a leader; you have been a guide, a guardian, a compass. You taught us that leadership is not how far a man stands above his people, but how closely he walks beside them. You have made our party more visible, more respected, more rewarded — even in those corners where service was once forgotten.

And so today, this frame is not offered as a gift, but as a covenant. Every word inscribed on it is a testimony. It declares that your labour has not been in vain, that your wisdom has not fallen to the ground, and that the seeds you have sown in us will yield a harvest for generations to come.

Though I have bowed from office, I have not stepped away from service. Let it be said that though I laid down a position, I did not lay aside my purpose. I remain — standing, serving, working, and walking with a company of like minds whose resolve is unshaken: that the best of us shall define the rest of us. I remain here, marching beside our leaders, cheering them on, and lending my voice to the dream we all share — a dream now carried forward through the Edge Rate Campaign and Celebrations.

On behalf of all of us, I say thank you. Thank you for your quiet strength. Thank you for your steady will. Thank you for your loyalty to a cause greater than us all.

And may the vision you protect continue to flourish. May the party you build never falter. And may history remember that when the legacy needed a guardian, you stood.

“I so much appreciate you Chairman”, he said.

He was accompanied on the tour by several former appointees who had worked closely with him throughout nearly 10 years of service in Ikorodu North LCDA.

These included Mrs. Lydia Agoro, former Supervisor for Education in his first term; Prince Niyi Odugbesi, immediate past Secretary to the Local Government (SLG); Hon. Olutunsin Ambali, immediate past Supervisor for Works; Hon. Ayo Adekoya, immediate past two-term Leader of the Legislative House; Hon. Ambali Adeleke, immediate past Supervisor for Works; Hon. Basirat Babatunde-Adewunmi, immediate past Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; the Women Leader representing the five wards of Ikorodu North LCDA; Hon. Mrs. Lydia Oluwafunmilayo Agoro, former S.A. to the Chairman on Special Duties and Market Affairs as well as numerous well-wishers.

In a feedback speech, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, the State APC Party Chairman, stated that although he was not the only one witnessing the historic and symbolic occasion of the thank you visit—August 25th, 2025, was a special day for him because it fell in the same month as his birthday. He also acknowledged his distinguished colleagues who stood by him in achieving the party’s progressive ambitions, including the APC State Secretary, Dr. Adeola Jokomba, and others.

“It is one thing to ask somebody to go and represent you; it is another for that person to responsibly discharge the duty bestowed upon them. What you, Dr. Banjo, are doing is appreciating God for what He has done in your life—giving you an opportunity, and not just any opportunity, but also standing by you to withstand the storm for over nine good years. In the course of serving his people, it is truly worth thanking him (Enibarúúre’loma’soóre!),” Pastor Ojelabi said in appreciation of Dr. Banjo’s courage.

For someone to still have people around him after his tenure in the administrative office is remarkable because the respect people show is often directed at the position, not the individual. Once you leave that position, the respect usually fades. However, Dr. Banjo was different; he looks back and still finds good people around him, which is no easy feat. That is why it is truly worth giving thanks to Almighty God.

Pastor Ojelabi expressed appreciation to Dr. Banjo’s entourage who accompanied him on the thank-you journey, especially the councillors for recognising that Dr. Banjo remains the boss. “This is the respect we expect from the members of our party, and it is not just exceptional during Rossy’s time alone, knowing well that life is full of ups and downs and that one must withstand whatever position they find themselves in.”

Dr. Banjo planted a seed after his tenure, which was taken over by Hon. Ameen Olawale Apanishile, the current Council Chairman of Ikorodu-North LCDA. “It is your responsibility to monitor and nurture that seed until it bears fruit.” This will demonstrate that you are not weary but rather more active and productive.

On behalf of the entire APC State Secretariats’ Executive Cabinet, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi accepted Dr. Banjo’s thank-you frame gift presentation. He stated, “We have noted your visit and the commitment you made to serve the Party in any capacity or opportunity. This has been duly noted.”

The frame presented to me will be placed in a prominent location in his house, where people can see it and appreciate the leader’s small contribution and support.

Also in a feedback speech delivered by Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani, the Chairman of APC Ikorodu Division and Ikorodu-North LCDA said Dr Builder Adeola Adebisi Banjo is most welcome as the Council Chairman expressing feelings of thankfulness for Dr. Banjo and also appreciating Mr. Tunde Olowu for standing with him alongside welcomed the entourage to the Patt Secretariat. “Standing by him is like standing by me”. Otunba Tijani said in appreciation. 

Having said that he and Dr. Banjo are like husband and wife, which he has informed the State Party Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi about this.

Started with a thankful song in worship to the Almighty Allah (God), said he is very happy to witness a section like this, “Up to the last moment that the State Party Chairman announced the death of the past chairman”, said he is very happy that such an incident did not occur in Ikorodu-North LCDA”.

Thanking Dr. Banjo for having trust and believing in him. “I should be the one appreciating you and not you appreciating me, because not too many people know who Teejay is, said Dr. Banjo is one among too many people who know who Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani is”.— For you to have said to some people who are trying to dent Otunba Teejay’s name that, “If I can have two types of somebody like Teejay, there will be no problem”. Behind me and before me, you trusted me without a doubt, “You did not betray me; “I feel so happy”, Otunba Teejay appreciated Dr. Banjo for his level of trust he has in him. 

Said, the Party should be thankful that Dr. Banjo compared with some of the previous council chairmen across Ikorodu Division. For the period Dr. Banjo served as the Council Chairman of Ikorodu-North LCDA, he stood his ground, said the Party Chairman of Ikorodu-North LCDA, Otunba Teejay. 

The State APC direction will say Go and do this; Dr. Banjo will be the first person to release money to carry out what the needed. “I have facts and records”. The stipends that were recommended from the State Secretariat to the Ward geopolitical zones SSA were paid without waste of time”— Till the last moment, you did not owe any debt. “I appreciate you Banjo”.

Every December, since Dr. Banjo became the Council Chairman, there has been a cow gift to the Ikorodu-North APC Party secretariat and so much more that he has done. All these are very rare in the midst of other council chairmen.

One cannot be a hundred per cent perfect in life, and one can never satisfy everybody, because such is life. But, I can say this before God and man that Dr. Banjo has done his best in Ikorodu-North LCDA as the former council chairman during his administration.

Having done all these has made me (Otunba Teenay) felmly behind you, because what I wanted and what I needed were done for the Party and not just for me. “You made my job and everything so easy for me, Otunba Teejay said in appreciation. There was stability in Ikorodu-North LCDA because the APC Party Chairman worked with a nice Council Chairman”. This is the only Council Chairman who went on appeal on behalf of the APC LGA and LCDA Party Chairman at the State level to buy vehicles for the party Chairmen across the Ikorodu division. “Dr. Banjo do it immediately as long as it is for the Party”. Otunba Teejay feels thankful to God for making the Ikorodu-North LCDA best friends with each other.-—This reminded him to remember the APC State Secretary, Dr. Adeola Jokomba who was patient enough before the attainment of his present position as the State Party Secretary.

Otunba Teejay urged the good people of Ikorodu-North LCDA not to handle any situation they find themselves in as a do-or-die situation, because better things are coming. “Not only looking at the bad side but also the good sides of people is very significant”.

On behalf of my Exco and the entire APC Ward Chairmen across Ikorodu-North LCDA, I am saying thank you for always being responsive to our needs throughout your tenure in office. Otunba Teejay appreciates. 

“What is expected of a leader, is what Dr. Banjo has done with me”, I appreciate your thank you frame gift presentation and the words written on it; you’ve said it the way it is. “If you are good at the presence of people, you are good before the Almighty God”. Lesson to be learned from these is that “Loving one another is the best of all”, it is only Almighty God that can reward anybody, said, the Ikorodu-Division and Ikorodu-North APC Party Chairman, Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani popularly known as Otunba Teejay.

In a speech delivered by Mr. Tunde Olowu, he said some people journey and do not work together. “They walk together but they are not working together”. In life, when you have people who are walking together and working together, “I can sleep and let Otunba Teejay do whatever he likes”. That is the level of the relationship between Dr. Banjo and Otunba Teejay, the Ikorodu-North LCDA’s APC Party Chairman they are. Dr. Banjo said to Mr. Tunde Olowu that this is one person whom he knew shielding his rare.

When you see a hyena walking, the strongest hyenas will be walking from the back, while those who are weak are at the front. The strongest walking behind the weak ones is at the back, shielding the weak ones at the front. And that is the position Otunba Teejay found himself.

Mr. Tunde Olowu said this in appreciation of Otunba Teejay’s faithfulness, loyalty, and honesty who appreciates people for their good deeds. Talking from the Nineth thank you visit he has accompanied, said it has been all about appreciation, prayers and commendations.  May all the prayers come to fulfilment, thank you very much, he said.

Group pictures thereafter.

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