community
By Kennedy Nnamani
THE residents of Journalists Estate Phase One Arepo, under the aegis of Journalists’ Estate Residents Development Association, JERDA Phase 1 have filed a petition to Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun state over what they described as ‘unlawful invasion, criminal destruction to property and persistent threat to lives and property’ perpetrated by the residents of Ebute under the auspices of Beachland Estate resident association, BERA.
In the petition, dated 8th February, 2022 and signed by Olufunke Fadugba, chairman and Toye Olori, General Secretary of JERDA Phase 1, the residents notified the governor that the unlawful activities of BERA in connivance with Oba Atanda Oyebi, the Olu of Arepo, and his chiefs have become a persistent threat to lives and properties of its members, residents with the aim of annihilating them from the community.
“There has been physical confrontation and verbal threats to lives of members of Journalists Estate Phase One, comprising notable members of the journalism profession and many others in various professional fields of repute.
There has been an incessant attack on our Estate by BERA members and the Olu of Arepo over the years and this has now turned to direct invasion and threat to lives, with regular invasion of our Estate by BERA members to directly compromise our security and officers,” the petition said.
The residents complained of the invasion of the estate and destruction of the newly constructed entry arc orchestrated by the Olu of Arepo, his chiefs, some BERA residents and armed thugs.
The petition reads: “On Tuesday, February 8, 2022, over 50 BERA residents, led by one Mr. Emmanuel Akudinobi, including some chiefs from the Palace of the Olu of Arepo, invaded our Estate and destroyed our entrance arc, located at the point of security access into our estate.
“After an initial discussion to prevent the destruction, it was jointly agreed to meet with the traditional ruler later in the day to discuss the issues and resolve the matter amicably. However, after a while, thugs, armed with cudgels, in company of some chiefs and the said Emmanuel Akudinobi, came back from the Palace of the Olu of Arepo, where they boasted to have received the order to destroy the arc installed by JERDA Phase 1 with millions of naira belonging to our members”.
The group lamented that the arc, which was destroyed barely 24 hours after its installation, has been the landmark point since the inauguration of the Estate in 2003 and delineates the allocated perimeter approved by the state government. However, the group claimed that the Olu of Arepo has claimed to be superior to the government.
“The reason given, among others, was that we did not pay “homage” to the Palace, before erecting the arc and that *No* other authority can override that of the Olu of Arepo,” the petition said.
The group has therefore called on the governor and the state government to save the situation, noting that “a situation, where the Olu of Arepo will be the arrow head of criminal destruction of property, with contumacious impunity, is a threat to peace and lives of citizens and must not be allowed to stand.”
It added that the police had been invited to view the destruction and commence immediate investigation so that lawful prosecution of the perpetrators of the acts can be initiated.
Arepo is a populated area located in Ogun state, a suburb of Lagos often referred to as New Lagos or as Magodo 3. The community houses many estates which include Beachland Estate and Journalists Estate.
KN
Tags: Emmanuel Akudinobi Kennedy Nnamani Oba Atanda Oyebi Olufunke Fadugba Prince Dapo Abiodun Toye Olori
