OGSAA Chairman, Fola Onifade, Defends Removal of Hunye’s Billboards, Says Action Lawful
The General Manager of the Ogun State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OGSAA), Hon. Fola Onifade, has defended the agency’s removal of political billboards belonging to suspended All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant, Hon. Abayomi Hunye, insisting that the action was guided by the law and not political considerations.
Onifade, who spoke on OSELU GBODE, a political programme on Royal FM in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, described allegations that the billboards were removed on the instructions of the OGSAA Chairman as unfounded and misleading.
"Hunye's billboards contain information that is capable of misleading the public and it is our duty as a regulatory body to correct that
"He claimed to be the APC Governorship Candidate when the party had picked Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola popularly known as Yayi as its flagbearer, that's why we acted in line with our mandate
"All information anyone put in his or her billboards must pass the test of being the truth, legally and morally correct in order not to cause unnecessary and avoidable crisis in the society" Onifade said.
He maintained that OGSAA was a government regulatory agency, not an extension of any political party, stressing that its activities were guided strictly by the Ogun State Signage and Advertisement Law.
The OGSAA General Manager also disclosed that he had briefed his lawyer on the allegations, underscoring his rejection of claims surrounding the removal of Hunye’s campaign billboards.
Onifade explained that the agency’s responsibility included monitoring outdoor advertising activities and removing unauthorised political posters pasted on public infrastructure, particularly during election periods.
“It is our duty to ensure that posters are not pasted on public facilities and assets like bridges and walkways. So where those things happen, it’s our duty to go and flush them out and clean up the whole area,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the agency’s treatment of political parties, Onifade dismissed allegations that OGSAA deliberately frustrated the campaign activities of opposition parties, insisting that billboard approvals were based on compliance with established regulations rather than political affiliation.
However, he noted that some individuals and political candidates often bypassed the approval process by erecting billboards without obtaining the required authorisation, exposing such structures to enforcement action.
Onifade said billboards belonging to different political parties could be found at strategic locations in Abeokuta and other parts of Ogun State, while the agency had also assisted opposition candidates in identifying suitable locations and processing their applications.
The OGSAA boss urged political candidates to personally ensure that their billboards received the necessary approvals and that all prescribed fees were paid before installation.
Onifade assured that OGSAA is committed to enforcing the law without discrimination, regardless of the political party or candidate involved.
He urged political parties, candidates and advertising practitioners to obtain the necessary approvals and make the required payments before erecting billboards to avoid enforcement actions, including removal.
