Ikosi-Isheri Residents Beg Sanwo-Olu, Obasa To Sack Council Boss Over Alleged Fund Diversion 

IBRAHIM QUADRI

Scores of Ikosi-Isheri residents of Lagos State on Wednesday stormed the seat of power, Alausa, demanding the sacking of the Council Chairman, Mrs. Samiat Bada over an alleged diversion of public funds.

The protesters alleged the council chairman was making money available to her husband who is a candidate of the opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Ogun to the detriment of the residents.

They, therefore, called on the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa to urgently intervene before things go out of control.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Speaker save our soul, suspend Samiat Bada,’ ‘Samiat Bada stop paying your sister 500k monthly,’ ‘Samiat Bada stop paying your PDP husband N2.5m monthly,’ and ‘Mayoress is using Ikosi-Isheri LCDA fund to bankroll PDP in Ogun.’

Others include, ‘Governor Sanwo-Olu save our soul suspend Samiat Bada,’ ‘Mayoress Bada is working against APC & Asiwaju Tinubu,” ‘Samiat Bada must go,’ among others.

The leader of the group, All Progressives Congress, APC chairman of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Otunba Odufowokan Oluwaseyi said, “These are concerned people of Ikosi-Isheri. We are here to protest against the chairman of our council. The way she has been running the affairs of the local government is dangerous to the aspiration of Asiwaju Tinubu.

“She has been sponsoring candidates in Ogun against APC. She has decided to be holding party meetings inside Secretariat. How will a council chairman be controlling the affairs of the council and at the same time wants to control the party?”

Oluwaseyi also alleged that Bada had been very disrespectful to the leaders of the party, urging the State Governor to urgently intervene before the crisis snowballed beyond control.

Also speaking, the APC Secretary of the Council, Mr. Olawole Michael added, “the council chairman has been harassing us. I have video evidence to show. She is running the council in a disorder. We want the Governor to sack her before it is too late.”

Addressing the protesters, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Obasa thanked them for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner, noting that the House would look into the matter.

While assuring them of an amicable resolution, the Speaker who was represented by the lawmaker representing Alimosho constituency I, Hon Bisi Yusuff advised the protesters to go back home orderly so that the protest might not be hijacked.

He said, “We thank you for being orderly. I’m here on behalf of Mr. Speaker and I will deliver your message. The House will intervene.

“You have to be patient and be peaceful as you agitate so that hoodlums won’t hijack the protest and use it against you,” he pleaded.