The Olu Akerele Family of Ikeja has cried out over clandestine and cynical moves to rename Olu Akerele Street, situated at off Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos State, after one Adolphus Davies.
The said street has been named after the late Olu Akerele since the early 1970s.
The family is pointing accusing fingers at the Ikeja Local Government which it accused of being behind the move to change the name of the street and erased the name of their patriarch.
The family’s grievances were contained in a letter titled ‘Notice of Objection To Renaming Of Olu Akerele Street, Ikeja Lagos State’ written by their lawyers: Olufemi Falana Esq, and Alfred Oselease Esq of Olufemi I Falana & Co, Advocates and Solicitors directed to the Executive Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Lagos State, Mojeed Alabi Balogun.
The letter, dated Monday, 9 September, 2024, was also sent to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo- Olu; the state Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat; and the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.
The Akerele family lawyers said in the letter that, “our client became seized of this fact vide a Public Notice dated 5th day of September 2024. The Chief Olu Akerele family strongly object to the renaming of the street to the said proposed Adolphus Davies Street”
According to the letter to the Ikeja Council boss, “Sir, the objection is based on the fact that the change of name will grossly affect our clients, and other residents business address, which is widely known as Olu Akerele Street. Further, sir, this will also affects our client’s National Identity Numbers(NIM), utilities, amongst others.”
The family added further that the late Chief Akerele during his lifetime contributed in no small measure to the development of the area hence the street was named after him. He equally built a structure that has also become synonymous with the street, I, Olu Akerele Street.
“It will therefore be a slap on the face of standing legacy of Late Chief Olu Akerele to change the name of the street that immortalize his impact in and on the street, which same is still very visible to this day.
“The fact that the name has survived over four decades, and the family is still very much alive and willing to preserve the name by fulfilling all the requisite requirements, as stipulated by the consenting authority and enabling laws, is proof positive that the name is worthy of preservation for future generations, ” the family said.
The family urged the council boss to use his “good office to rescind the application for renaming of the street as the whole process is shrouded in bad faith and clearly against good conscience.”
