Responding to recent allegations questioning the family lineage of Lagos State’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Kadri Hamzat, kakalistiq.com reports that the Okonu Odebiyi Kehinde Bamgbose Family from Epe has vehemently debunked the false claims made by a group identifying themselves as “Epe Aboriginals & Indigenes.”
In a written statement signed by Olayemi Yekini as Chairman and Tunji Aberuagba as Publicity Secretary of the aforementioned group, doubts were raised regarding Dr. Hamzat’s connection to Epe. However, the Okonu Odebiyi Kehinde Bamgbose family has stepped forward to set the record straight and correct the misrepresentation.
Addressing the allegations in a statement made available to this news medium, the family asserted, “Dr. Obafemi Kadri Hamzat is from the family of Okonu, a well-known and respected lineage in Oke-Balogun, Epe. His late mother, Alhaja Hamdalat Kehinde Okonu, was a daughter of the late Pa Abdulazeez Okonu, a prominent figure in the Epe community.”
Providing historical context, the family traced their roots back to Pa Abdulazeez Okonu, who migrated to Epe from Lagos Island around 1851. Pa Abdulazeez and his three brothers settled in Epe and became integral members of the community. The assertion that Dr. Hamzat lacks ties to Epe was dismissed as “laughable” by the family, emphasizing their longstanding heritage in the town.
Additionally, the family attested to Dr. Hamzat’s character and contributions to Lagos State, describing him as a “well-behaved public officer” who has significantly contributed to the state’s progress. They condemned the campaign of calumny aimed at tarnishing his reputation, urging for an end to such baseless accusations.
The Okonu Odebiyi Kehinde Bamgbose Family called for a return to civility and urged those involved to uphold the peace and integrity values defining true Epe indigenes. They expressed their unwavering commitment to defending their heritage and called for an end to the dissemination of false information aimed at causing discord within the community.
