Kunle ADELABU
-Agunbiade won the primary election on popularity, those behind malicious video, audio shall answer for their actions soon – Agunbiade Media Team
The Media team of the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the representative of the Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Sanai Oyeniran Agunbiade, has condemned the disparaging of the traditional ruler of Ikorodu Kingdom, Chairman, Ikorodu Division Council of Obas and Chiefs and the Permanent Vice Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, Adegorushen V and the Ayangbure of Ikorodu and other eminent individuals in a video and audio recordings currently being circulated on the social media.
In a release tagged, “The Dirtiest Political Propaganda In The History of Ikorodu”, by Hon. Agunbiade Media Team on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, it stated unequivocally that those behind the said video and audio recordings, where the revered monarch and other eminent personalities were allegedly disparaged, have no respect for the traditional institution.
The team further stated that the suspects of the hate campaign also maliciously lied against the State Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade, the State Vice Chairman and Chairman, Ikorodu branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Otunba Waliu Daisi, and respected leaders of the Onyabo VigilanceGroup, Mr Lanre Labinjo and Lekan Pelumi (Rado).
The release read thus:
“Dear constituents of Ikorodu constituency 1, our attention has been severally drawn to a slanderous video cum audio message currently being circulated by some unscrupulous characters online and offline with the main intention of misinforming the good people of Ikorodu Division about the person and character of our highly revered monarch, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi.
“Without any iota of doubt, those behind the disgusting messages and their sponsors have no respect for our traditional institution and this is highly condemnable. For anybody to go public with such audio and video about our Oba, given how much he has spent his time, energy and money to seek development for Ikorodu, we are sure the progenitors of this Kingdom are vexed with such people.
“While, we, like many others, won’t link this with politics, especially the contest for the House of Assembly seat in our constituency, we make bold to say that no well-meaning and self-respecting indigene and (or) resident of Ikorodu will join in insulting our traditional leaders come what may.
”We are sure the palace and other arms of the traditional institution will rise against this unfortunate incident as appropriate with the view of discouraging those behind it and preventing such from ever happening again.
“To say the least, we condemn the messages and urge all the good people of Ikorodu to, not only ignore the many lies and concoctions therein but to also abstain from partaking in the curse which such heinous messages attract by way of helping in spreading it.
“The messengers of hate did not spare Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade, Otunba Waliu Daisi, and the respected leaders of the Onyabo Vigilante Group, Lanre Olabinjo and Lekan Pelumi (Rado), in their malicious and unfounded attack. They threw caution to the winds, forgetting that we have laws and law enforcement mechanism in this country. They went ahead to criminally lie against these gentlemen all because some bad losers and those who are afraid of losing elections, are determined to stop the wish of the majority in our constituency.
“We naturally would not have dignified these desperate lot with a response, but we have been advised by well-meaning persons within the community to set the records straight by telling the public about the desperation of some elements who have sworn to stop S.O.B. Agunbiade from returning to the House of Assembly to represent Ikorodu Constituency 1, at all cost. These are the people abusing our King and tarnishing the image of Ikorodu in the process.
“We are, therefore, not surprised by their unethical propaganda, name calling, character assassination and above all, defamation of character(s) with criminal imputation.
“Except for malicious intent, cowardice and their inability to substantiate their allegations, we, like other well-meaning members of this great division, wonder why the “ewi exponent” failed to mention his name or eulogise himself as it is the practice by renowned ewi exponents. Little wonder no notable social media platform allowed the said recordings to be broadcast on its group chat.
“We have identified some of the actors, their scriptwriters, sponsors and grand sponsors in the renewed onslaught against a popularly embraced fourth term aspiration of Honorable S. O.B. Agunbiade and we can only promise them that at the appropriate time, we will make them face the dire legal consequences of their unrestrained use of words and photoshopping.
“In the face of this extreme attempt to slander His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, Hon SOB, Otunba Waliu Daisi, Mr Lanre Labinjo., Comrade Pelumi Olalekan (Rado) and our teeming party faithfuls, we would like to state unequivocally that Hon S.O.B. is not only a legal practitioner of repute but a people/community oriented legislator who has given himself to the development and pragmatic representation of Ikorodu at the state level. He does not have a criminal record nor is he undergoing criminal investigation by any law enforcement agency. He contested and won the APC Ticket to seek re-election as Legislator representing Ikorodu Constituency 1 at LSHA in 2019 and by the grace of God, he would emerge the winner at the general elections.
“In a clear but shameful display of their desperation and penchant to blackmail for selfish motives, these unpardonable characters have been sending the said disrespectfully and libellous materials to people in the diaspora who ordinary will not vote in the general elections.
“Rather than join them in their sacrilegious assignment, most of those who received the audio and video have been saddened by the sheer senselessness of the entire charade.
“While it is disheartening to see some disgruntled members of the political class descend so low in the history of Ikorodu politics, we enjoin members of the public to disregard the vituperation and display of naked ignorance of the limitation of the freedom of speech and political agitation. We urge you all to continue to support Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade on his conviction for greater impact for Ikorodu Constituency. We are convinced that we shall overcome because the battle is the Lord’s.
Reactions :
Hon Olu Omoniyi, an APC Ward Chairman in Ikorodu North LGA :
“The figment of imagination and a by-product of ‘conspiracy theory’ of some serial electoral failures who see nothing good about the cumulative performance of one of the finest legislative handlers in the history of Africa state legislature.
“Hon S.O.B. Agunbiade has performed creditably well to earn himself another good four years term; this is what the teeming population of the party has expressed through the recently conducted party primary election and millions of lkorodu Constituency l electorate are willing to repeat same come 2019 general elections.
“The bitter truth is that the party did not carry out necessary intelligence cum psychiatric scrutiny on some of their men and women seeking for positions.
“How can a right thinking party man/woman descends so low as to come up with devilish, jaundiced, otiose, wicked, cowardice act; badly concocted to elicit primordial sentiment in the name of politics.
“No doubt, they have taken it too far as to attract profusely the condemnation of both ‘Alales’ (ancestors) of Ikorodu and their people from the two sides of a coin”.
Also, Mr Lawani David, while reacting via the social media, stated that though, the release ought to have come long ago, but however, called for the prosecution of the sponsors of the controversial video and audio recordings.
“Thank you for this response, but it’s rather too late. I got the wind of the video from a friend in the U.S, telling me to see what my mentor did in Ikorodu. An allegation which I debunked and called necessary quarters.
“It is better to use the force of law to seek redress since all the scriptwriters and their sponsors are known, rather than allowing it to go away just like that.
“Let us take measure concerning this matter in order to punctuate the spread of this malicious video.”
Olori Tokunbo Bakry, in her comment, stated:
“Those behind the ‘yeye’ video shall receive the wrath of God definitely. All the perpetrators must be made to answer for their deeds”.
Ajalogun Moruf, while responding to the release, stated:
“Those who are behind the video and audio recordings will live to regret their deeds. They have murdered sleep and they shall sleep no more”.
Another respondent, Adun, stated:
“Let them continue to wash their dirty linen in the public. We shall continue to appear pure and Allah is the best of all planners.”
Mrs Seyi Babalola, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikorodu North LCDA, in her own comment stated:
“The forces of darkness failed to stop d Divine power of Almighty God at the first ever political battle in heaven. As it is in the beginning, so it is now and forever it shall be until Jesus comes. No shaking ‘Opomulero’ of Ikorodu Kingdom. Almighty God is involved.
“HE has already exposed and destroyed all power of opposition against your destiny. Lagos State House of Assembly seat in 2019 is sure for you. There is no point fighting the anointed man of God.”
Mr Tijani Kamaldeen stated:
“The Almighty Allah will expose them and prosperity will not forgive them”.
