The leadership of Osogbo West Local Council Development Area has debunked the purported report on alleged Osun Mall Invasion by the council tax collectors in Osogbo.
As reported by an Osun based news hub (prints and online) alleging the Osogbo West LCDA tax collector of forceful tax collection from shop owners at the Osun Mall.
THE REPORT READ IN PART: “Tax collectors from Osogbo West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Awosuru, Osogbo, State of Osun, allegedly led some thugs to Osun Mall last Monday to disrupt business activities over a disagreement between management of the mall and the authorities of the LCDA.
“It was reported that the staff of the Osogbo West LCDA forcefully came into the mall with security operatives to seal up shops in the place over tax payments disagreement.
“OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the thugs, who were eight in number and led by one Oloke, came after the security operatives with the tax collectors were helpless on the matter.
The Chief Executive Officer of Dessy Kitchen, Comrade Dare Eluyemi, who also doubles as the Head of Waste Management of the Osun Mall, said the Osogbo West LCDA tax collectors had few weeks ago came and went round shops in the mall to demand for tax payment without discussing anything with the management,” end of quote.
However, the leadership of the alleged council, Osogbo West LCDA, under Chairmanship of Honourable (Prince) Olaniyan Ademola told the OSUNREPORTERS NEWS on Sunday in Osogbo that the matter was not properly reported while the media outfit who reported the incident is known in the state as anti-government since the current administration assumed office in 2018.
In contrary to what was reported, the Council Chairman explained that the Local Government rate officers had earlier met with the Manager of Justrite Mall and agreed to treat shop owners individually after which the council served them demand notice for trade permit.
In his words; “In the first instance, our rate officers met with the Justrite mall manager where he told them to treat the shop owners individually. Aftermath, they were served demand notice for trade permit. The rate officers went back 3 weeks after all the shop owners have all been notified of their coming, many complied while only comrade Dare created unwarranted seen by molesting the officers and also the NSCDC officials by removing their beret by the restaurant manager, which is a wife to Comrade Dare.
“I sent the Vice Chairman and the Cecretary to the Local Government to calm the situation but they were overwhelmed, I have to call the D.P.O to sent his officers for calmness. Eventually I was told the manager of the restaurant and the mall manager removed and cut the seal used by my rate officers which led to their arrest.
“The mall manager and a lady supervisor came to my office last week Thursday, I went for a meeting that involved all the Osogbo Chairmen and our leaders. They were attended to by my council manager where they pleaded for forgiveness and promised to see me this week again”, Osogbo West LCDA Chairman explained.
The council boss also described the alleged using of thugs to demand tax from business owners and disrupt business activities at the Osun Mall as blatant lies and an attempt to tannish his image and discredit the current administration of the peoples’ governor, Adegboyega Oyetola in the state. He therefore set the record straight by adding that the council has not and will never use force to demand for its rights from anybody, noting that his reputation even before taking the political office as council Chairman has never been violence but philanthropic and in accordance with the law which are in the public domain to access.
He added that nothing can distract the leadership of Osogbo West LCDA under his watch to progress, warning the blackmailers to desist from such act and embrace current progressive administration to move Osogbo West and Osun in general forward.
“How can I use force to demand for what is in accordance with the law. Nothing like using thugs to ask for rate at the Osun Mall, how can that be possible? It is an attempt to distract and blackmail me and the current government under my boss, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola who has redefined governance in Osun and we are not deterred by their lies. But I’m using this medium to warn them to desist from such act,” Osogbo West Council boss said.
