Tension has taken over the Abiok
Street, in the Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Lagos State,
after the street was allegedly renamed after a hotel in the area.
Punch Metro reports that after attempts by community leaders to
address the issue through letters to the council failed, some youths
removed the signage of the hotel, identified as Latest D Hotel.
The action was said to have led to a clash between the youths and
supporters of the owner of the hotel, leading to destruction of some
property in the community.
Policemen from the Ojokoro division were said to have raided the street and arrested some of the culprits.
It was gathered that the hotel’s signage, which was removed by the
youths, had since been returned as residents reportedly prepared for
another showdown with the owner of the hotel.
A resident, who did not want to be identified, said the clash occurred on a Thursday.
He said, “On Thursday, October 19, some youths who were angry
about the alleged compromise of some council officials, removed the
signage of the hotel at the junction. They replaced it with that of
Abiok Street. The action led to a fight and detsruction of property. The
police were brought in and many of the youths were arrested. They were
released the following day.”
A community leader, Alhaji Jimoh Lawal, said Abiok Publicity
Limited was the name of an outdoor advertising company he co-founded
with another community leader, late Alhaji Kehinde Olasode.
He said the street was registered in the company’s name by the
Ikeja Local Government Area in 1989, long before the creation of the
Ojokoro council area.
He explained that Latest D Hotel was not located on Abiok Street to have warranted the change of name.
He said, “There was no notice; we were neither served nor
invited, and no public statement was issued about the intention of the
LCDA to change the name of the street. We woke up one day and saw that
Abiok signage had been replaced with that of Latest D.
“I learnt that the exercise was carried out in a commando
manner. We were even told that we would never get justice even if we
take the case to Aso Rock Villa.
“The hotel in question is not on Abiok Street. The act is
purely a case of oppression. We have gone to the police, talked to the
Community Development Association and visited the council. They have not
done anything about it.”
The Secretary of the community, Mr. S.O. Awoyinfa, said the council had promised to address the issue after another meeting.
“We had the meeting last week and they promised to remove the
hotel’s name. We don’t want to take the law into our own hands because
the youths are restive over the matter,” he said.
But the elder brother of the owner of the hotel, Chief Agbeleja
Disu, said the matter was being resolved, adding that the hotel did not
do anything wrong.
He said, “The case is not difficult. Latest D did not take over
the street. Abiok is still the name of the street. It was because of
the establishment of the hotel that the owner asked the council for a
part of the street that was not occupied with houses. Abiok was just
moved a little further.
“The DPO, community leaders and Abiok himself (Lawal) saw we
did not take over the street. We want to tile the place and put
streetlights there and that was why we were given that particular
portion. We didn’t bring anything into this world and we wont take
anything when we die. We didn’t want this matter to get this far until
some thugs were used to create tension, which made the police to
intervene. But the matter is being resolved.”
The Chairman of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, Hammed
Tijani, said he was expecting a report of the committee he set up to
look into the case.
He said, “When the petition came in, I asked the Head of
Administration, along with the legislative arm to handle the matter. I
think they have met and resolved. I am expecting a report from the
committe.”
Source: Punch
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