By Adekunle Aliyu
The Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Administration, Hon. Bolaji Ariyoh has officially responded to the allegation and reports that he ordered the attack on Nollywood actor, Mr. Ayo Badmus but promised to facilitate comprehensive medical and mental treatment for  Badmus so that he can get back to normalcy and face squarely the task of fishing out his assailants and bringing them to justice

Vanguard had recently reported that Ayo Badmus was beaten black and blue by a group of hoodlums suspected to be political thugs at Oshodi area of Lagos.

The group was said to be working for the chairman of  Oshodi Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Mr. Bolaji Ariyoh in a press release signed by Gbenga Fatoki, Special Assistant, Media to the Chairman denied the allegation stating that he had never had any interaction or altercation with Mr. Ayo Badmus, lest  imagine any violent exchange and that he could not have ordered anybody to assault him.

The Chairman further described the attack on  Ayo Badmus as dehumanising and avowed to end the reign of hooliganism and violence in the Council area
Read initial report: How Nollywood actor was attacked by thugs – Ayo Badmus

Below is the statement in part

PRESS RELEASE

“WHEN SILENCE IS NO LONGER GOLDEN”

Being the Official Response of the Chairman, Oshodi-isolo Local Government Area, Hon. Bolaji Ariyoh to the Accusation of Assault by Mr. Ayo Badmus

The attention of the Chairman, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Administration, Hon. Bolaji Ariyoh has been drawn to reports in some news and social media on the allegations by an actor, Mr. Ayo Badmus that he was assaulted and violated by the Chairman on Sunday, 6th November, 2011 when our brothers and sisters in Islam were celebrating Sallah across the nation.

The Chairman deeply sympathises with Mr. Ayo Badmus and believes that no-one should subject fellow human beings to such level of crude brutalities and dehumanisation of another person’s personality and dignity.

Thus, Hon. Bolaji Ariyoh on behalf of the good people of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area unambiguously condemns the attacks and infliction of bodily harm on the person of Mr. Ayo Badmus.  This is even more disturbing happening just some few weeks after the inauguration of a new democratically constituted administration in the Council.

Hon. Bolaji Ariyoh wishes to employ this medium to re-assure all members of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government that he remains committed and focused on fulfilling his electoral promise of guarantying safety of lives and properties, and, putting a permanent end to the reign of hooliganism and violence in the Council area, indeed a more peaceful and prosperous Oshodi-Isolo is possible!

As a law-abiding citizen who passionately abhors violence and fervently believes in the rule of law, the Chairman pledges to fully support Mr. Ayo Badmus in his efforts to bring the culprits of the dastardly act to book.

He called on Badmus to report the assault to the security agencies to ensure that the full wrath of the law is brought upon the perpetrators of the assault. The Chairman advices that either criminal or civil processes can be invoked against those who assaulted, brutalised and injured Mr. Ayo Badmus for justice to be manifestly done and the heaven shall not fall.

However, for the purpose of setting the record straight, Hon Bolaji Ariyoh wishes to inform the general public and numerous well-wishers, who have made enquiries on this matter that there is no iota of truth in the report and it should be discountenanced.

According to the Chairman, “I have never had any interaction or altercation with Mr. Ayo Badmus, lest to imagine any violent exchange, I have never met or spoken to him nor could I have ordered anybody to assault him; for what purpose or intent would that be?

There must have been an unfortunate identity mix-up, even our reputed Nollywood buff and elder in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area; Mr. Tunde Kelani can testify that I never had any encounter with Mr. Ayo Badmus or himself on last Sallah day”.

It is succinctly clear that since this report keeps spreading like a wild fire in Harmattan, silence can no longer be golden. Hon. Bolaji Ariyoh had always expressed his preference that as a humanitarian and leader who believes in the “total health” of his constituency, he takes pride in and care of the welfare and wellbeing of all members, residents and visitors in the Council area.

He expressed empathies that because of the nature of the bodily injury which Mr. Ayo Badmus ‘’suffered’’, it is possible for him to have suffered minor mental lapse that may have made him to wrongly identify his assailants. The Chairman promised to facilitate comprehensive medical and mental treatment for Mr. Badmus so that he can get back to normalcy and face squarely the task of fishing out his assailants and bringing them to justice.

Gbenga Fatoki
Special Assistant, Media to the
Chairman
Oshodi-Isolo LGA