14 Days After Leaving Office, Ex-Ifo LG Chair, Vice ‘Illegally’ Removed Street-Name Signpost, Allegedly Threaten Victim’s Life
ABEOKUTA – In what could be described as abuse of power, the immediate past Chairman, Ifo local government area of Ogun state, Hon. Kikelomo Delano and her Vice Chairman, Adebesin Oladapo are allegedly still performing official duties as Executives of the council area 14days after leaving office.
A lawyer and resident of Yakoyo, in Ojodu-Abiodun in Ifo local government area of Ogun state, Mrs. Funmilayo Obaseki has accused the ex-council Chairman and vice chairman of removing her street name signpost on August 7, 2024 14days after leaving office.
Recall that the tenure of local government chairmen in Ogun state expired on July 24, 2024.
Mrs. Obaseki in a petition addressed to the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Ogun State House of Assembly, and Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun state, explained that, on August 8, 2023 she applied for the naming of street in her name, Mo Funmi Obaseki Crescent with the payment of N40,000 into the council’s designated account as application fee.
She said immediately, a publication was pasted on the street for 21days for any possible objections from members of the community.
She stressed further that, the local government Chairman, Hon. Kikelomo Delano through the Ag. Director, General Services and Administration, Prince O.S Olanire in a letter dated November 8, 2023, IFLG.48/Vol.II/154 approved her street naming application as Mo Funmi Obaseki Crescent.
The letter of approval reads: “I have the directive to refer to your application dated 21st August, 2023 and to inform you that management at her statutory meeting held on Tuesday, 8th November, 2023 have graciously approved your request to name a crescent Mo Funmi Obaseki located in the area of Ojodu in Ifo local government.
“This approval is conveyed at management reference number IFLG.48/Vol.II/154 dated 8th November, 2023.
“In line with the above, you will be required to pay a total sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) only being approval fee to the effect and two years renewal fee in lieu of approval covering year 2023 and 2024 at the rate of Twenty Thousand per year (N20,000) for two years.
“(This amount may be reviewed upward in the future).
“Your record/identification number to the effect is IFLG.84/1320 and will be required from time to time when making subsequent renewal as well addressing any matter/issues that may formally arise from this titleship, please.”
The petitioner said having received the above letter from the local government, she proceeded in paying the sum of N120,000 for the two signpost to be erected on the street with the local government Treasury receipt issued for her as evidence of payment.
According to her, in May 29, 2024, the council officials erected the two signpost on the street.
She, however, expressed dismay that on the 5th of July, 2024, the former Vice chairman of the local government, Mr. Dapo Adebesin led some suspected thugs to illegally remove the signpost.
She argued that, the ex-vice chairman claimed there was a petition from a member of the community and her application did not followed due process.
Mrs. Obaseki further accused Mr. Dapo Adebesin of sending suspected political thugs to assault, intimidate and harass her in the area with a threat to kill her.
She said, on August 7, 2024, 14 days after leaving office as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the local government, both Hon. Kikelomo Delano and Dapo Adebesin came to the street and erected a new signpost with the name ‘Johnson Street’.
She added that, the local government did not give her any official revocation notice of the street name before removing her signpost.
Findings revealed that, the Johnson Street was not registered with the local government prior to the application of Mrs. Funmi Obaseki in 2023.
When contacted, the immediate past Chairman, Ifo local government, Hon. Kikelomo Delano said the petitioner’s application letter was not dated.
She said there was a name on the street before her application.
When asked why did the local government collected money from her and given approval and mounted the signpost in the petitioner’s name, Hon. Delano said, “let her go and collect her money from the people that collected money from her.”
She continued, “I am no more the Chairman, I’ve finished my term. We were many that sat over the case, we found out that the form she claimed to have filled was not dated. And she wrote a letter from her house on Johnson Street and she want to remove the Johnson Street and put her name.”
When queried that, the Johnson Street that was not registered with the local government government as at the time the petitioner applied for street naming to Mo Funmi Obaseki Crescent, the Ex-council Chairman immediately hung up the phone.
Meanwhile, efforts to also speak with the Vice Chairman, Dapo Adebesin was futile as his mobile number was unknown.
