Controversy Trails Ikate Primary School Renaming as Community Chides Elegushi

By Kayode Adeyemo/ LAGOS// There was a commotion in Itedo Primary School penultimate week as staff of state Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB and that of Eti Osa LGA who were in the school to effect a renaming of the school to Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi Primary School, Itedo met with stiff resistance when the indigenes of the area opposed the exercise.

SECURITY MONITOR gathers that the two neighboring communities have been in court for long over ownership of Itedo which Ikate claims. One of such cases is at the appeal court.

The community leader in Itedo who had written series of petitions against the school renaming alleged that Elegushi is navigating the state machinery to push through a renaming of Itedo Primary School, in Itedo to Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi Primary School, Itedo.

Residents of the area who spoke with SECURITY MONIT say it is illegality and abuse of power by Elegushi through the instrumentality of SUBEB and Eti Osa LGA. They added that the activity of Elegunshi on their land is tantamount to contempt of court and it has breached the peace of the community which is capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.

Pastor Adeigbagbo Harrison Ikuogbowo, the leader of the community said he heard that the name of the school has been secretly changed for the past few months but cannot confirm from any official until recently when he saw a School Testimonial issued to a pupil with Oba Yekinni Elegunshi Primary School. The 67 years old community leader told newsmen that his community will resist every attempt by Elegunshi to claim their ancestral land, adding that there’s nothing that can relocate him and mebers of his community from their father’s land. He however traced the history of Ikate and Itedo and how the duo enjoyed mutual relationship in the past.

Elisha Megba, one of the community elders said that the renaming is a surreptitious move to further the takeover of Itedo while the dispute over land ownership is still ongoing in court. “The Itedo Primary School was built by Itedo community during Lateef Jakande as governor. Then, when we wrote to Jakande, he said if the community can built the school the government will send us teachers. We built the school in 1979 and the Government gave us teachers. We are very sad that the Lagos State Government ignored the effort of the community and supports a single man who wants to blow his ego beyond his boundary”.

Olabode Ariwaye said it was a surprise that Elegunshi have been using his influence in the Lagos State Government to suppress and harass Itedo community. “We have series of court cases against Elegunshi. We are in court over land matters. The Elegunshi imposed Baale on us here which the case has been dragged to court.