The Executive Chairman of Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State has denied report of beating a Community leader to coma, saying he was actually settling dispute between road users and some members of Keke/Aba Odu Task Force.
The News Carrier NG reported how the executive chairman of Lagelu LGA, Hon. Kazeem Adeyemi alias Matala allegedly beat up one Alhaji Hamzat, a community leader, to a coma. The incident reportedly occurred at Keke/Aba Odu Road at Ward 5 in Egbeda Local Government Area.
The victim, Alhaji Hamzat, was said to be one of the community leaders who volunteered to fix a damaged portion of the road that is not motorable and has been causing untold hardship to motorists that ply the road.
Hon. Matala while reacting to the news report through his media aide, Mr. Ayo Salami said that the news was twisted by the concerned community leaders.
The statement reads in full:
Rejoinder: The News Making Round That Lagelu L.G Boss Beats Community Leaders— A Public Misleading- Politically Motivated Story Sponsored on News Media.
The attention of the Office of the Executive Chairman Lagelu Local Government Area, has been drawn to a story making rounds on news Media, about an incident that occurred around Keke/Aba Odu road on the 14th of july 2021.
To the best of our knowledge on the incident. On the 14th of july 2021, a clash had erupted between road users and some members of the concerned community— The members of the community were allegedly forcefully demanding for funds from the motorcyclists and other road users, for the remodelling of Keke/Aba Odu road.
The disagreement between these road users and community task force had already led to a tensed confrontation between the two parties, when the executive chairman Hon. Gbadamosi Kazeem Adeyemi was commuting from his Aba Odu home, to the office.
As a public servant, who swore to maintain public peace and order, he became really concerned to the public peace and order which was already at stake— As he moved to intercede between the disagreed parties,- in bringing angry and hurting individuals and groups to decorum and civility.
We therefore affirm, that contrary to erroneous opinions, sponsored on news media— What transpired on the Keke/Aba community highway, was only a conscious disagreement by road users, who attempted to engage members of community task force, against a forceful demand for fund, to undertake a community project.— And all that the executive chairman of Lagelu local government went for, was to sue for peace among the parties, and bring the angry and hurting individuals and groups to decorum and civility, in maintaining public peace and order.
We have gathered intelligence around the situation, as well as the opinion sponsored, and we have found it be a politically motivated story by dissent voices in the State— We therefore urge members of the public, to disregard any sponsored opinion that claims; “Lagelu L.G Chairman, Beats Community Leaders”.
From the Office of the Executive Chairman
Ayo J Salami
Media Aide to the Executive Chairman, Lagelu Local Government Area, Oyo State
July 16, 2021.
