The Executive Chairman of Ikosi/Isheri Local Council Development Area, LCDA in Lagos State, Abolanle Samiat Bada, has been under intense fire for daring to announce her 50th birthday party and the cost of the aso ebi that will serve as part of the invite to the anticipated party.
In her invitation card, which surfaced on social media, the party is scheduled to take place later this year at an event centre in the Ikeja area of the state, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal billed to keep guests entertained. Besides the N250,000 male guests are expected to part with for 10 yards of clothing material and a cap to match, female guests are expected to part with N650,000 for lace material and head tie to match.
The lace material and the head tie, popularly referred to as HOH and 3D, respectively, is said to be in an exclusive class of their own when it comes to luxury fabrics. Well, not a few people took Bada to the cleaners for planning to go extravagant for her birthday party at a time and season the economic policies of the new government, which she is a part of, has further impoverished citizens, with many not knowing where their next meal will come from.
For stating in the invitation card that the ‘aso ebi’ will serve as part of the access card for the party, it meant that even her underpaid subordinates, who do not want to be in her bad books if they fail to attend the party, will have to go over and beyond to find the means to purchase the fabric.
What is more? As a council boss, her take home pay annually is grossly inadequate to cover the cost of the party she is planning and this got people wondering how a public official, whose salary is sourced from tax paid by struggling citizens, comfortably lives so large without any form of accountability.
THEWILL gathered that a petition was allegedly filed by Concerned Ikosi/Isheri LCDA residents over the issue. The group allegedly accused her of making it compulsory for councillors, supervisors and workers in the LCDA, to buy the fabrics, among other allegations levelled against her. She denied the allegation of compelling staff members to buy the fabrics, describing it as completely false, baseless and a deliberate attempt to blackmail her, tarnish her reputation and create unnecessary division within her administration.
She also claimed that her friends and associates in the Diaspora were the ones who chose to wear the HOH lace fabric and 3D head tie costing N650,000, adding that there was no formal invitation to her staff, forcing them to contribute financially towards her 50th birthday celebration. Whatever her reasons and excuses are, it just leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
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