Lagos Tourism Ministry refutes claims in viral video, clarifying events during the J.K. Randle Centre inspection and defending its Commissioner
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture has addressed a viral video circulating on social media that depicts an altercation at the J.K. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History.
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In a release made available to Freelanews, the Ministry clarified the events, highlighting inaccuracies in the narrative shared online.
The Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, visited the centre as part of her oversight duties.
During the inspection, it was discovered that the Centre’s Director, Qudus Onikeku, had been operating a canteen without the ministry’s approval.
Benson-Awoyinka questioned the unauthorised establishment and initiated its eviction.
This action was reportedly met with resistance from Mr Onikeku and his team, escalating into a confrontation.
According to the Ministry, non-state actors, unrecognised by the Lagos State Government, were present during the meeting without authorisation.
These individuals allegedly disrupted the proceedings, recording the meeting against protocol and without consent.
Benson-Awoyinka objected to the recordings, maintaining that such actions were unacceptable in an official setting.
Contrary to claims in the viral video, the Ministry stated that the Commissioner did not assault anyone.
Instead, a senior female official from the Ministry was physically attacked by the unauthorised individuals.
The ministry described the video as a deliberate attempt to misrepresent events and blackmail the commissioner.
The ministry announced an investigation into the incident to ensure accountability and fairness.
It also reiterated its commitment to upholding transparency and effective management of its facilities while urging the public to disregard the misleading narrative presented in the video.
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Benson-Awoyinka affirmed her dedication to serving Lagos State and its citizens, emphasising that her actions align with standard administrative procedures and the Ministry’s mission to promote excellence in service delivery.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
