The alleged assault on officials of the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority (OGPDPA) by hip-hop artist Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable and his goons have provoked reaction from the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
Portable has been on the run after he led his guys to attack three town planners: Ramon Lateef, Akinpelumi Oyero, and Abidemi Onabanjo while they were performing their duties at his bar in Iyana Ilogbo, Ota.
After that, nine of the singer’s associates were brought before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court for allegedly assaulting the officials.
The defendants are charged with armed violence, felony, obstruction, assault, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, and intent to kill, and were granted bail in the sum of N5m each.
A statement attributed to Governor Abiodun by his Special Adviser on information and strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said his principal frowned on Portable’s actions, describing it as “shameful and intolerable,” which would not be allowed to go unpunished.
The statement read partly: “We are profoundly taken aback by the unpleasant and uncivil act of the hip-hop artiste, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, on Wednesday, in the Iyana-Ilogbo area of the State where his bar is located.
“The way in which Portable and some miscreants he employed in the dastardly act attacked the officials of the OGPDPA is not only bizarre but a confirmation of the erosion of Omoluabi ethos in those individuals and indeed a great disgrace to the state.
“Governor Dapo Abiodun totally condemned this primitive and indecent act and reiterated his avowed commitment to a just and egalitarian society as he is ready to make any individual flouting the extant law of the land face the full wrath of the law irrespective of social status and influence.”
