Kunle Adelabu
– Agunbiade, Basorunm, Animashaun, Olufowora, Ogunsanya’s homes affected
-Council Chairmen Banjo, Daini appeal for calm
Ikorodu felt the power of social media on Friday, but unfortunate in a negative way, as residents stormed homes of several political figures following the mis-information, via various social media platforms, that they hoarded palliative food items in their homes.
The false information, which was circulated through Twitter and alleged that certain politicians were hoarding food items meant for the masses in their homes, was started by one anonymous person on his Twitter handle and later made its way to other social media platforms.
The fake news tweeted by the ‘anonymous’ person, alleged that the palliative materials meant for Ikorodu residents were hoarded in Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun and Adeniran Ogunsanya’s houses.
It would be recalled that many residents, on Thursday, October 22, 2020, invaded a warehouse at Mazamaza area of Lagos, where the food palliative packages donated by the Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) were stored.
Following the invasion which generated several reactions on the social media, news had gone round that large number of the food packages had been supplied for distribution in Ikorodu but were being hoarded by politicians.
The unfortunate incident in Mazamaza, however, gave credence to the fake news initiated by the anonymous person on the social media which was re-broadcast by many others.
By the time our reporter visited the house of the former Secretary to the State Government and Chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, around 4.00 pm, many people who were acting on the false information, had already gathered outside the house in an attempt to invade the house to cart away bags of food items that are not existing.
THE IMPACT gathered that on hearing the news, youths in Igbogbo rose in defense of the politician veteran and his house and prevented invaders from having any access.
It was also gathered that some of the invaders that came earlier were allowed into Basorun’s compound and were conducted round to see things for themselves and were reported to have confirmed that no food items were hoarded in the house.
Members of the Agbekoya and local security team were also seen taking strategic positions in the area to keep the invaders at bay.
Hon. Adeola Banjo, the Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA arrived Basorun’s house same time with our reporter and went inside to meet with the revered political leader.
The council Chairman later emerged from the house a few minutes later and was seen talking with some of the guys outside the house before putting a phone call through to men of the OP MESA who arrived at the scene at around 5 p.m.
Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA Chairman, Builder Sesan Daini, who also visited the scene, came with more local security personnel.
On arrival, the leader of the OP MESA team met with the APC Chieftain alongside Hon. Banjo and thereafter, came out and requested for the attention of the people that gathered outside the Basorun’s house.
He told them that they were fed with fake information because he did not see any bag of food items stored inside the APC Chieftain’s house and pleaded with them to go back to their various houses.
Also, after meeting with Asiwaju Basorun, Builder Daini and Hon. Banjo accompanied the Octogenarian outside his house to thank the youths of the community who stood in defense of his house and later went back inside the house.
At the time the people gathered at Basorun’s house, many others, we gathered, also invaded the Adeniran Ogunsanya house along Awolowo Way, which is the All Progressives Congress (APC) headquarters in Ikorodu and the home of the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade.
The invaders also attacked the home of Alhaji Omotayo Olufowora at Anibaba and Alhaji Musliu Animashaun’s house at Igbe junction and his Cubano hotel.
We gathered that many properties were damaged at the homes of the two political leaders.
When our reporter got to the Hon Agunbiade’s home around 6.pm, many people had also invaded his compound located at White House area and the facility behind the Ikorodu Central Mosque Praying Ground to cart away food items he purchased for distribution to less privileged and widows in commemoration of his birthday on October 25 which had earlier been advertised on social media.
THE IMPACT gathered that the invaders were allowed to entered the compound and carted away bags of food items without any resistance.
In a statement issued late night on the day of the incident by the media team of the lawmaker, the unfortunate incident was confirmed.
It was stated that the packaged food items were procured by the SOB team for distribution to identified beneficiaries.
“We wish to inform you that the Ota Ona incident, involving the carting away of packaged food items, is happening at a facility belonging to Team SOB, the political group of Hon. SOB Agunbiade”, the statement confirmed.
“The palliatives, meant for the above already advertised programme slated for tomorrow, were delivered at the facility during the week.
“A close look will reveal that many are unbranded as they were procured by the team to be distributed to beneficiaries alongside a planned giveaway of cash support for 50 widows as part of the ceremonies marking Agunbiade’s birthday on Sunday.
“Good enough, beneficiaries for the said program were nominated on social media platforms with names submitted for the said event”.
Many of the invaders, we gathered, stayed at the Alhaji Olufowora’s house till late in the night.
It was gathered members of the Onyabo Vigilance Group were later mobilized to provide security at the Alhaji Olufowora’s home over the night.
Builder Sesan Daini, the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA Chairman, who spoke with THE IMPACT at the home of Asiwaju Bashorun, thanked Igbogbo youths and residents generally for defending their town against those he called intruders.
“You can see that our people rose to the occasion to defend their lands. I thank them for preventing the home of our political leader and by extension our lands from being invaded”, he said.
“We want to appeal to protesters to embrace dialogue with the government. They have good intentions but with the turn of events, there is need for us all to come together and protect our land, heritages and public facilities”.
He further appealed to residents of Ikorodu and Lagos in general to stop the ongoing violence and embrace peace.
His Ikorodu North LCDA counterpart, Builder Adeola Banjo, also speaking with THE IMPACT, also appealed to youths in the state to work with the state government in implementing their demands and making the state safe for all.
He described the misconception that led to the invasion of the Asiwaju Basorun’s house and other political leaders’ homes as unfortunate.
“Asiwaju Basorun has again proven to us that he is a leader. You can see that all the boys in Igbogbo are in solidarity with him.
“There is misconception on the twitter that palliatives meant for ikorodu are stored in his place. People came from Itamaga, Ogolonto to come and collect palliatives that are not in his house. It is just too unfortunate.
“But God is in control and I also have men of the 174 Batallion here with me to control the situation.
“ I want to appeal to the youths to embrace dialogue with government and also that it is important that we should always draw a line when to stop whenever we are involved in sensitive situation.
“They have passed their message which is loud and clear and government is working on it. I appeal to my brothers and sisters to please calm down and let us embrace peace”, he pleaded.
Chief Isiaka Abagun, a traditional chief and political analyst who also spoke with our reporter on the matter, said:
“Ikorodu was relatively calm until some God forbidden persons tweeted earlier in the day that their are some palliatives in Adeniran Ogunsanya and Baba Bashorun’s houses. This triggered the gullible to react this way. Why are some people fueling the ember of criminality because of political reasons. One sure thing is that God is going to catch up with them soon”.
