The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, has frowned at the statement credited to the candidate of leading opposition party in the state, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, over what it termed smear campaigns and an attempt at cheap blackmail.
Recall that the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate, Olajide Adediran, during an interview on Arise TV, had claimed that the Lagos State Government instructed outdoor advertising practitioners to reject materials from opposition parties and, therefore, his advertisement materials were brought down midway into a contract.
In a statement made available to Freelanews and signed by the agency’s managing director, Damola Docemo, the outdoor regulator described the politician as being ignorant of rules guiding outdoor advertisement.
“Our attention has been drawn to the wild allegations made by the People’s Democratic Party Governorship Candidate in Lagos, Olajide Adediran, during an Arise TV interview. He accused the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) of removing his campaign posters and instructing outdoor advertising agencies from not to fly his campaign materials.
“The PDP candidate displayed stark ignorance of the rules guiding outdoor advertisement practice in Lagos. LASAA simply regulates billboard structures and not advertisement campaigns.
“The decision to deploy any advertisement is the sole discretion of billboard owners who must have registered with LASAA for a licence to hoist advertisement structures in the State. Advertising companies determine their clients and the terms of their trade,” he wrote.
Docemo went further to reiterate that such theatrics displayed by Adediran and the People’s Democratic Party was not new in their attempt to curry public sympathy by playing the victim.
“We will, however, never succumb to falsehood and cheap blackmail,” he vowed.
According to the MD, LASAA will remain steadfast and committed to its responsibility and the dictates of the law without being partisan.
“For the avoidance of doubt, indiscriminate pasting of posters will not be permitted anywhere in Lagos until political campaigns have been formally flagged off, in accordance with INEC guidelines. Even at that, it must be done at designated sites.
“The guidelines will be enforced without prejudice against any political party, association or aspirant.
“Lagosians recognize the sterling performance of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and will not be distracted by any political party or candidate who tends to whip up sentiments to gain public sympathy,” he submitted.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
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