Jubilation in Ayobo Ipaja over Lagos lawmaker’s death

There was wild jubilation on Tuesday evening at the secretariat of Ayobo Ipaja LCDA when news of the death of the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Sobur Olawale filtered into the council.

Olawale, popularly called Omititi, passed on after he slumped while returning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Jos, Plateau State on wednesday.

The lawmaker represented Mushin II constituency in the House of Assembly.

It was learnt that when the news of his death got to the notice of the council boss, Hon. Mrs Bola Shobowale, she summoned expanded leaders of the council, including the cabinet members and the leaders of the legislature.

Most of the loyalists of the chairman who got to hear the news from their chairman started jubilating, singing songs of victory over their ‘enemy’. The chairman was also heard raining curses on the late lawmaker for exposing her alleged misdeeds to the media.

Late Hon. Olawale as the chairman of the House Committee probing the finance of the council had recommended the suspension of Shobowale, who has been battling with her health for over four months.
They therefore see him as an enemy.

It was gathered that Omititi had recommended that Shobowale step aside for her deputy, to allow her take adequate care of her ill health so that the running of the council would gain some momentum.

It was also reported in the media that the chairman has been involved in some financial malfeasance and executive recklessness.

During the audit conducted by the committee, it was discovered that whereas expenditures were made during the time Shobowale was away on medicals, (four months), there was no management or executive meeting that authorized such expenditures as there was no hand-over by the council boss.

The unilateral inclusion of one Wole Aina, who acts as the supervisor for works but was never on the list approved by the state government for appointments in the council in April 2022, was also queried during the audit.

Most stakeholders have complained about the breakdown of governance in the council as a result of the absence of Shobowale.
A lot of residents who make use of the health center have complained about the state of the facility, particularly the power supply.