The Reign of Terror in Kosofe: Why Moyo Ogunlewe is a Liability to Lagos APC
By: Tunde Bukola, Lagos
…journalist brutalized, leader’s style under fire
A disturbing wave of intimidation has engulfed Kosofe Local Government Area, with the secretariat transforming into a “citadel of intimidation” under Moyo Ogunlewe, the Council’s Chairman, Tunde Bukola reports.
Tensions are mounting as residents and media practitioners call for urgent intervention following reports of systematic intimidation and violence at the council’s secretariat, which many describe as part of a worsening “reign of terror.”
“The brutal assault on MITV journalist, Habeeb Adejobi, is not an isolated incident; it is the stock-in-trade of an administration that seems to view dissent as a crime, transparency as a threat, and as an APC member myself l am worried,” Bukola said.
Ogunlewe’s leadership has been described as “increasingly vicious,” with reports of similar attacks on a party chieftain and seizure of media tools. Residents say his actions undermine the state’s reputation and contravene constitutional rights.
According to the Lagos-based commentator, the local government headquarters has shifted from a place of service to a site of fear.
“For years, the residents of Kosofe and the media community in Lagos have watched a disturbing transformation. What was supposed to be a seat of grassroots governance, the Kosofe Local Government Secretariat, has morphed into what many now describe as a citadel of intimidation.”
“Moyo Ogunlewe is no longer just a Kosofe problem; he is an APC problem and a Lagos State liability,” Bukola asserts, calling for accountability and justice for Adejobi.
The core of the current controversy stems from the treatment of Adejobi, whose professional equipment was reportedly seized while he was being “pummeled” by thugs loyal to the Chairman.
“The brutal assault on the MITV journalist is just one amongst many. When professional tools such as cameras and phones are seized by government aides, it isn’t security protocol; it is a desperate attempt to delete the truth.”
Critics argue that the Chairman’s leadership style is becoming a significant liability for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s “Greater Lagos” vision. Reports suggest that even party chieftains have not been spared from the alleged violence. If a fellow Lagosian is treated this way, imagine what others would go through.
“Moyo Ogunlewe is no longer just a Kosofe problem; he is an APC problem and a Lagos State liability. His actions are a direct affront to the constitutional guarantees of press freedom (Section 22) and the dignity of the human person.”
The situation has prompted a direct appeal to the Sanwo-Olu led Lagos state government to enforce the law and restore order to the local administration before the situation escalates further as rights activists condemn the act and ask for justice.
