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By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Local government chairmen and chairpersons, along with their councilors, supervisors, senior special advisers, special assistants, and management staff, have come under scrutiny for their extravagant parties and the imposition of costly “Aso Ebi” uniforms on attendees. As public officeholders, they are expected to show gestures of love to their communities, but the excessive spending has generated diverse opinions.
The situation has led to some public officials being nicknamed “Honourable Kosi Nnkankan,” as they struggle with loan repayments, community hostility, and insults. Adding to their financial burdens, one council chairman reportedly planned a 50th birthday anniversary celebration and allegedly asked attendees to pay a staggering N250,000 for male clothes and N650,000 for female clothes as the uniform “Aso Ebi” for the event.
While some public officeholders from other regions, like Mushin, have engaged in study tours organized by LGNA International, providing them with future opportunities for travel, the majority of people burdened by the costly “Aso Ebi” uniforms may not have the resources to embark on such trips. The financial strain has left many questioning the ethics of using salary and allowances from the same organization to pay for extravagant parties.
The Kosofe Post sought public opinions on the matter, and the responses were resounding disapproval. Mr. Lateef Adewole condemned the act as inappropriate and an abuse of office, fostering corruption and financial obligations that could influence government contracts or benefits.
Comr Mudashiru Ismaila Alabi expressed disbelief and stated that if true, such actions should disqualify those involved from holding public office. He called for a review of the chairman/chairperson’s performance based on community feedback rather than paperwork.
Omoba Rasheed Awofeso shared economic concerns and questioned the wisdom of spending such vast sums on frivolous parties, suggesting that political status might be driving such behavior.
Rotimi Ademola expressed his outrage, questioning whether the recent federal allocations to local governments would have any tangible impact on communities when some chairmen engage in such wasteful spending.
Whatsapp platform comments
Of what value is the fabric, we are yet to understand the reality on ground, anyway they are currently milking our common wealth, can such standards be maintained when out of office? It’s not an ideal one( Omoba Awofeso Rasheed)
Such council chairman/ chairperson may have his or her reasons for imposing such outrageous fabrics on his/ her associates at this point with the current economy reality and hardship.
Hence such council chairman/ chairperson concerns should be call to order by the party leadership in other not to drag the party name into the mud.If the proposal of such chairman unchecked,the party herself should be ready outrage that will follow such event or face the wrath of the economically displayed citizens. People are seriously hungry and hangry,Any glamour birthday party of this nature at this moment may trigger revolt and unrest from the concerns citizens in the said local government/ LCDA
The council chairmen in Lagos should proffer solution that will ameliorate the suffering of the people amid this current economy woe caused by the subsidy removal policy of federal government of Nigeria not to add to the injury by a way of assaulting the collective intelligence of the people’s with extravagant birthday party.
In my own opinion,such joyful party can be organize in a moderate manner within the confined of the economy reality instead of this gagging the poor councilors, supervisors and others political office holders with this show of shame oppressive party.
Wale Gbadamosi
Hmmm deficicient in human sensibility, uncouth and reckless display of notoriety disrespect to the people they represent. There are too many BOLEKAJA at the helms of affairs in LOKOJI.
It’s high time people should wake up and demand accountability, ignite open information act on many of their claim projects. The standard of governance is gravely suffering in the hands of all this ATOKO WA BALEJES.
Segun Ajanaku.