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Protest in Bariga as Residents Reject Renaming of Ilaje Road to King Sunny Ade Road, New Council Chairman Bukola Pledges to Reverse Decision as Community Insists Ilaje Road Must Remain
Residents of Ilaje Road in the Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State took to the streets on Wednesday in a peaceful protest against the renaming of their street to King Sunny Ade Road, insisting that the original name must be retained to preserve their ancestral identity.
The protest comes on the heels of a controversial decision made last week by the out-gone LCDA Chairman, Hon. David Kolade Alabi, who renamed several streets in the area including Ilaje Road a move that was met with immediate resistance by community members.
Addressing protesters before the demonstration, the Baale of Ilaje/Bariga Community and Oba-elect, High Chief Kayode Ayetiwa, described the name change as “unacceptable” and an affront to the community’s rich history dating back to 1948.
“The community came into existence in 1948 and it has always been called Ilaje Road. We will not allow them to change the heritage of our people. We want it like that,” Ayetiwa declared.
The traditional leader also revealed that the newly sworn-in Chairperson of Bariga LCDA, Hon. Bukola Adedeji, contacted him on Tuesday to express her intention to reverse the decision.
“She called me on the phone and begged that we should not welcome her into office with a protest. She promised to do whatever we wanted,” he said. “But I told her we would still go ahead with the protest and submit a formal protest letter to the council.”
Despite the Chairperson’s assurances, residents marched through the area, carrying placards and chanting in defense of their community's identity.
While acknowledging the contributions of music legend King Sunny Ade, the residents stressed that their opposition is not against the artist himself but against the erasure of a community name that holds historical and cultural significance.
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