High Chief Abu Jelili said: “He had over the years been responsible for the repairs of roads and gutters within the vicinity without assistance from the traders that comprised of Hausas, Igbos, Yorubas, Ilajes and others.”
By Uzor Odigbo
Calm has been restored in the Ijeododo kingdom in the Iba LCDA area of Lagos after some shop owners protested over demolition to make way for road construction.
According to an eyewitness, trouble began when traders in the area allegedly accused the Baale of Ijeododo kingdom, High Chief Abu Jelili Ododo of deliberately and cautiously demolishing their shops because they did not cast their votes for the All Progressive Party (APC) on Saturday.
But the Baale denied the traders claim, describing them as enemies of progress of community development.
In his statement, High Chief Abu Jelili said he had over the years been responsible for repairs of the roads and gutters within the vicinity without assistance from the traders that comprised Hausas, Igbos, Yorubas, Ilajes and others.
According to him, whenever it rains, the road and gutters in the community becomes deplorable causing environmental problem as flood usually prevent people from carrying out their legitimate business.
“As head of the community who feels concerned, l cannot watch things go wrong and therefore, I decide to ask the contractor to demolish the extension of shops in the areas close to the road to make way for gutters.”
Suddenly, the traders started protesting, accusing Chief Abu Jelili of demolishing their shops for refusing to vote for APC which was not true and total cheap blackmail.
The traders also invited their fellows from other part of Lagos for the protest which attracted the Police before peace was restored.
Apparently sensing further trouble, one of the Igbo community leaders waded into the matter and addressed the protesters.
Some of the traders however alluded to the fact that Chief Abu Jelili has been helpful but why they publicly protested was to avert the unknown as orders were coming from right left and center on the elections which they confirmed was later found to be untrue.
One of the Baale’s aide said High Chief Abu Jelili has been maintaining the roads for five years to make it memorable and being accused of partisanship is demoralizing and unfortunate.