2017 was a year not to forget in a hurry in Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Lagos State as various happenings and events occurred that shaped the year.
Festaconline2017review Lists the Top 10 Major Happenings that Shook the community in 2017 .
Kidnapping Kingpin Arrested
For More than 3 years, Residents of the Amuwo-Odofin Community was terrorized by frequent kidnappings sagas.
No one knew who the next target was, the people were living in fear and outsiders scared of coming around to the community.
10th of June 2017, the die got cast as the Kidnap Kingpin, CHUKWUDI DUMEME ONUAMADIKE a.k.a EVANS who has been on the run for years were apprehended at his Magodo residence, Lagos State. and his Gang leaders.
They confessed to almost all the kidnapping cases that were reported in the Community. The community has returned to its peaceful state.
Power Outage
Power supply in form of electricity took a downturn as many areas in Festac most especially were poorly supplied and some even spent most part of the year in utter darkness and dependent on generators and making living difficult.
Another community also in the Lg , Ijegun-Imore community in Satellite Town, Amuwo were also faced with darkness For Over 4 Months.
Some residents of 312 road, festac town lament that they are in Darkness for the 5th Day after the mas disconnection of 80 flats which was carried out on July 31st 2017
The residents of 111 Road Festac Town took a walk in numbers to the PHCN Division Office located at 23 Road Festac Town on the 28th Of December 2017.
The residents complained bitterly about the recent disconnection of light in their area.
2017 Local Government Polls
Finally Amuwo-Odofin got an LG Executive Chairman after so many years of waiting. There were several parties which included the two major Opposition Parties, APC & PDP and also LP which was the Main Faction of PDP as well. Without forgetting APGA.
It was a tough one, as there were quite a number of individuals all vying for different positions ranging from Councillors to Local Government Chairman.
This raised riots, quarrels within parties.
Well after all had been done , said and the Elections conducted peacefully by LASIEC, A winner emerged in person of Comrade Valentine Buraimoh who is the Current Executive Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Lagos State.
The Inauguration/ swearing-in ceremony of Comrade Valentine Buraimoh held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja , July 25th 2017.
Photos: Inauguration Of Valentine Buraimoh As Amuwo-Odofin LG Chairman
Assassination of Emmanuel UBA aka Onwa
Popular political and influential community Policing vanguard leader, Emmanuel UBA was assassinated on the Eve of The Local Government Polls, July 21st 2017.
He was assassinated on 7th Avenue after being shot on his head and Neck and left in cold blood in his car by unknown men on Okada.
July 21 2017, Polar and well known Socialite, Emmanuel Uba aka Onwa was murdered in cold blood in Festac Town, Lagos , the eve of LG polls.
4 months later , According to the nation, 4 suspects were arrested in connection to this incident and also the arms used in commuting the murder was also found.
The suspects are Fata Onifade aka Apase, Abidemi Kolawole aka Baidu ,Mufutai Tokosi aka TK and Micheal Fashola.
Before his assassination, Emmanuel Ikechukwu Uba, Onwa was the Head of FESTAC Town/Amuwo-Odofin Community Policing Youth Vanguard. He was suspected to be a police informant.
AmuwoDecides
History was made in Amuwo Odofin as the First Community Focused Electoral Debate held.
This Debate which held at Golden Tulip Hotels, Festac featured 3 Aspirants who debated amongst themselves and dispensed what they had in stock for the people if they were elected.
The candidates who graced the debate are Labour Party Candidate, Jamiu Ola-Balogun, APGA Candidate, Chinedu Nwoye & APC Candidate, Valentine Buraimoh while the PDP Candidate was absent.
Gracing this event were leaders, citizens, stakeholders and even the Press.
The first-ever community debate / interactive platform, #amuwodecides17 was a success with 3 Candidates gracing the debate.
#Amuwodecides: Photos From AmuwoOdofin Community Election Debate
AmuwoGames
Sports is believed to bring Unity To the people and so those Seun Ayeni and the organising team of the AmuwoGames.
The AmuwoGames sports Festival was a month of sporting activities amongst residents in the Amuwo-Odofin Community.
It kicked oiff with its Press Conference,Then The Opening Ceremony and had a grand finale with the closing ceremony.
Fire Incidents
2016, we reported more than eleven fire incidents which occurred in different areas in the community.
2017 saw to some fire incident with Majority of
December 13th 2017 was sure a Dark Wednesday in Amuwo-Odofin especially Festac Town Lagos as a diesel Laden tanker fell on the Festac Link Bridge an caught up in Flames.
The Fire lead to the Closure of the affected section of the bridge which unfortunately till date has brought untold hardship on residents as both vehicular and human movements have been impeded.
This was why the Bridge was closed
- Fire At LG
- Fire At Ibiza
Popular hangout spot, Ibiza Lounge in the Festac area of Amuwo-Odofin Lagos state gutted fire on 17 September 2017.
Festac Music Festival 2017
The Festac Music Festival 2017 was a success as the event held on the 30th of December 2017 at the FHA Field 23 road , Festac Town , Lagos.
Town Hall Meetings By Comissioner Of Police & Hon Dipo, Lagos State House Of Assembly Rep
Amuwo-Odofin Constituency 1 were thrilled to a constituency stakeholders meeting by the the Lagos State House of Assembly Member representing Amuwo Odofin constituency 1, Hon Dipo Olorunrinu.
The event which held simultaneously in all the 40 constituencies of Lagos State took place at Holy Family Event Centre, 32 by 41 road junction opposite First Bank plc Festac Town by 6th October, 2017.
Hon Dipo Hosts Constituency Stakeholders Meeting In Amuwo-Odofin
Also on 5th October 2017, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, Imohimi Oluwole Edgai, was present at the 9th town hall meeting organized by the Area Command E .
At the stakeholders meeting , several issues were raised and answers given to these issues by the Police Commissioner.
12 Security Issues Addressed At Area E Police Command Town Hall Meeting