By Peter Dansu A prominent youth leader, social activist and development advocate, Prince Omotayo Samuel Adeniran, has called for genuine s...
By Peter Dansu
A prominent youth leader, social activist and development advocate, Prince Omotayo Samuel Adeniran, has called for genuine social and political stability in Badagry West Local Council Development Area, warning that persistent injustice, imbalance of power and growing intolerance could further threaten peace and effective governance in the council.
Prince Adeniran, who is based in the United Kingdom and serves as Chairman of the Kweme Descendant Union, made the appeal in a statement shared with Badagry Today, where he praised core leaders, apex leaders and youths across Badagry West for their contributions to the growth of the LCDA since its creation. While acknowledging their sacrifices, he stressed that the time has come for honest reflection and decisive corrective action.
According to him, the political system in Badagry West is no longer healthy, with serious consequences for governance, unity and peaceful coexistence among residents. He identified the denial of fundamental human rights, inequality, marginalisation, abuse of power and corruption as the root causes of what he described as a lingering political crisis that continues to weaken the council.
He drew attention to the long standing grievances of Ward E, describing it as the most politically underrated ward in the LCDA, despite its population strength, high number of polling units and significant contribution to council revenue. He lamented that while other wards have produced chairmen, members of the House of Representatives and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ward E has never been given a fair opportunity to produce an elected public officer.
Prince Adeniran questioned how the leaders and youths of Ward E could be expected to remain satisfied when they are treated as second class citizens in their ancestral land, stressing that such injustice must end if Badagry West is to enjoy lasting peace and stability.
He recalled an earlier agreement reached by leaders and political factions to rotate the chairmanship position to Ward E, noting that the agreement was abandoned barely three months to the elections due to narrow group interests. He warned that no political system built on injustice and unequal opportunities can thrive or deliver sustainable progress.
The community leader also criticised what he described as the concentration of power in certain wards, citing cases where wards already holding key political offices still seek additional positions. He described this as unfair and harmful to balance of power within the LCDA. He noted that Ward A, for example, has produced the first chairman of Badagry West, a former federal lawmaker and currently hosts a serving commissioner, while Ward E remains politically excluded.
Beyond structural imbalance, Prince Adeniran expressed concern over rising political intolerance in the council. He accused some political actors of treating aspirants and their supporters as enemies, denying them respect and fundamental rights, and engaging in witch hunts that threaten peace and development. He insisted that the desire to serve should never attract harassment, intimidation or bullying.
As a way forward, Prince Adeniran proposed clear solutions, including the formal rotation of the chairmanship among all wards through a written agreement jointly signed by leaders and youths, equitable distribution of social amenities and infrastructure across all wards, and the complete eradication of political bullying and character assassination.
He also called for unity among leaders and youths based on the collective interest of Badagry West rather than loyalty to factions, the conduct of free, fair and credible elections that reflect the will of the people, and greater accountability from public office holders who must embrace constructive criticism.
While acknowledging ongoing efforts by individuals working quietly and openly to promote reconciliation, he warned that taking sides or acting as propaganda for any individual or group would only deepen divisions and delay progress.
Prince Adeniran concluded by stressing that Badagry West is one family and can only move forward through fairness, justice and unbiased leadership. He cautioned that political blindness must never override justice and maintained that anyone who cannot objectively defend the common interest has no moral right to speak for the youths of Badagry West.
He ended his message with a firm declaration that enough is enough, urging all stakeholders to choose peace, fairness, unity and justice for the future of the LCDA.
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