We write this letter with a deep sense of disappointment and concern, not only as
stakeholders in Epe but as established professionals who believe in the integrity and progress of our community. The events of the past few days have brought to light a matter so disgraceful and intellectually reprehensible that it cannot and must not be ignored.
Your recent press statement in response to the several allegations against you was not just a poorly managed attempt at damage control, it was an outright act of plagiarism, an embarrassing display of intellectual laziness, and an insult to the intelligence of the good people of Epe.
It is beyond comprehension that you, as the Chairman of our Local Government, copied verbatim a 2015 press statement issued by former Lagos State Governor, His Excellency Babatunde Fashola, and presented it as your own. Even the title of the statement was lifted word for word.
The only modifications made were minor adjustments to fit your personal situation. Hence, this is not just a failure of leadership; it is a public disgrace of
the highest order.
A Leadership That Lacks Original Thought
Your actions raise serious concerns as follows:
1. Is it that you don’t have a capable media team that can draft an original and legitimate response?
2. Did none of your aides, supervisors, or advisers notice this shameful act before it was published?
3. Is this the level of intellectual bankruptcy that now defines the leadership of Epe Local Government?
A leader who cannot articulate her own thoughts in the face of allegations, but instead steals another’s words, is not just unfit for office but a danger to the credibility of the institution she represents. If you cannot even defend yourself without resorting to intellectual theft, how can the people of Epe trust you to manage their affairs with honesty and competence?
This is More Than an Embarrassment, it is an Outrage.
As if the allegations of financial misconduct, embezzlement, criminal breach of trust, contract inflation, and certificate forgery were not bad enough, you have now added intellectual fraud to the growing list of controversies surrounding your administration.
Madam Chairman, you owe the people of Epe an apology for bringing this community into disrepute with your thoughtless and unethical actions.
A Final Demand for an Apology and Immediate Action We want to be loud and clear: This matter will not be swept under the carpet.
Our only demand for now is that within the next 72 hours, you issue a public apology for this act of plagiarism and for the embarrassment you have caused the people of Epe. An apology is not a sign of weakness, but rather, it is an acknowledgment of wrongdoing and a necessary step toward restoring public trust.
However, in the event that you refuse to take responsibility, you must be prepared for the most rigorous legal and intellectual challenge, one that will go beyond social media outrage. We, along with other well-meaning professionals from Epe, will initiate legal proceedings to examine all allegations against you and take appropriate action under the law.
A Call for Competence in Leadership
Beyond an apology, we strongly urge you to immediately employ a competent
spokesperson, someone with the intellectual dexterity to represent your administration with dignity, rather than the unprofessional and incompetent individuals currently surrounding you.
Leadership is not just about occupying a position; it is about demonstrating competence, responsibility, and integrity.
Conclusion: The Time for Accountability is Now, Epe deserves better. We will not stand by and watch our community descend into intellectual and administrative mediocrity
There is a need to inform you that we have already engaged the professional services of a reputable law firm, to act as our solicitors going forward, in the event that you fail to apologize to all of us in Epe within 72hrs of this demand. Once you refuse to swallow your pride by yielding to our sole demand, our lawyers will take it up from there and continue to represent our interest. Let’s see who will have the strength to sustain this intellectual journey.
I trust that you will allow wisdom prevail and that you will take the necessary steps to comply with our demand before it escalates any further.
FOR: EPE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
Yours faithfully,
Fatai A. Adebanjo, (LP).
Dr Femi Olulaja.
