Bola Shobowale, Chairman of the Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area (LCDA), has been “dragged” to the Lagos State House of Assembly over alleged prolonged absences from work, which stakeholders claim are hindering progress in the area.
She faces accusations of “negligence and incompetence,” which, according to a petition submitted by concerned citizens and stakeholders of the LCDA to the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, have severely impacted local governance and development.
The Council Boss is reportedly battling a medical condition that has left a significant void in the administration of the LCDA.
Additionally, she is said to refuse to follow the chain of command necessary for effective operations within the council.
Development initiatives have stalled due to her health struggles and continued grip on power according to the petitioners.
The situation reportedly worsened after a recent incident in which she collapsed during one of her rare appearances at the council headquarters.
Shobowale was reportedly taken away from the office after the collapse and has not been seen, even when the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress, sent an assessment team led by former Deputy Governor Femi Pedro to the LCDA on Wednesday, October 25, 2024.
The assessment visit was part of a statewide performance review of all council chairmen ahead of next year’s local government election.
The visit, however, led to a confrontation as supporters of the absent chairman clashed with those seeking to highlight the ongoing issues. Security had to step in to protect the visiting team, including the former deputy governor, who was ushered out to avoid harm.
Faced with the deteriorating situation, concerned citizens and stakeholders reportedly petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly through the Speaker’s office, seeking intervention.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
