There is no landlord association in Otumara except CDAs, Kalejaiye tells Lagos govt. agencies

Mojisola Lawal

Traditional head of Otumara community in the Lagos Mainland Local Government of Lagos State, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye has fingered the deposed community head of Otumara 1, Festus Arowojolu as the person behind the move to frustrate developmental efforts in the community.

While reacting to what he described as an unofficial visit to the Lagos State Urban Regeneration Agency (LASURA) by a group of people loyal to the deposed head, Arowojolu on Thursday, Kalejaiye said the group is constituted by the former Baale to frustrate government regeneration plans for the community.

The group, according to him, comprises members of the disbanded electricity and security committee in the community and those that are opposed to the campaign for the construction of the senior secondary school in the community.

He said, “For over 25 years, there is no association with the name Landlord, Landlady and Residents Association in Otumara community but we have three Community Development Associations who have been at the forefront of development in the community.

It however came to me as a surprise when I got the report that some residents paid a visit to LASURA to discuss issues affecting the community without the knowledge of the CDAs and the traditional head. I am therefore dissociating Otumara community from the activities of this group as they serve the interest of the deposed community head and not residents of the community.

For those that have been following the development in the community, they will know that this group is constituted mainly by members of the disbanded Electricity and Security Committee who regroup to work for Arowojolu in order to disturb the peace of the community and frustrate government plans for the community.

The group largely populated by Arowojolu family and his former chiefs include: Alhaja Nimota Jato, Agbede Buraimo, Jude Ojo, Ayila Jombo (Arowojolu younger brother), Rev Akintimehin Arowojolu, Rosaline Arowojolu, Chief Akujo Arowojolu and Baba Ola Arowojolu.

These are the people causing disaffection among residents in the community. They are bent on making the community ungovernable hence their ill-motivated visit to LASURA.

There is no such association like Landlord Residents Association in Otumara. What we have in existence are the CDAs. I am therefore pleading with the Lagos State government and its agencies especially LASURA not to pay attention to this group as their activities are aimed at causing breakdown of law and order and halting development in the community.

In a letter dated 29th December 2020, the Lagos Mainland, Surulere and Apapa Local Government Divisional Chieftaincy Committee chaired by Oba AbdulFatai Aromire, the Ojora of Ijora land and Iganmu kingdom affirmed my position as the only traditional head of Otumara community, so there is no contention about that.

Again, I am appealing to all concerned stakeholders not to recognize any group or association from Otumara community without the consent of the community head, and council of elders in the community.”

Speaking on the issue, Abass Ishola who is one of the three CDA chairmen distanced the community from the activities of the splinter group.

According to him, the group is bent on frustrating the efforts of the traditional head and the CDAs.

He said, “We are at a stage where we need to join hands with High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye to move the community forward. But some residents in the community are fueling crisis and making mischievous moves all in their bid to give the dog a bad name. Why should any individual or group visit any government agency without the consent of the head of the community and the CDAs? This is uncalled for. If truly they are there to discuss issues affecting the community, definitely leaders of the community should be aware of it. Our community head, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye has been up and doing. He is doing his bit to ensure a habitable and progressive community for all but what do we get in return, disloyalty and dishonesty from this group of mischief makers headed by the dethroned by Baale. They are fueling and instigating some residents against the rulership of Kalejaiye and by extension, they are moving against the community.”

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