Arewa in Ajeromi/Ifelodun LGA seeks inclusion

By Maikudi  Babakarah

SIR: One of the defining features of Lagos metropolis is the inclusion of interests – ethnic, tribal and religious – in the affairs of Nigeria’s commercial hub. Over the years, this noble compass has translated to the robust leadership the state has enjoyed since the creation of the state on May 27, 1967.

Against this background, I wish to complain of the marginalization of the Hausa community, in the Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area (LGA). As a result, they are being denied of the dividends of democracy.

Also, they are being relegated to the background despite their contributions to the development of the area. Our people have contributed a lot in the different communities that we live in.  No one recognises or even remember us when it comes to sharing the dividends of democracy. If we complain, they say it’s because we are not united. How do they know that we are not united?

Our motto is: Unity and Progress. How can such people be alleged not to be united? We are progressive minds and we know what we are doing. We are not people who do not know their rights from their left.

We have a united front that organises our people and yet no slot has been given to us. Just imagine, out of the entire workforce in Ajeromi /Ifelodun Local Government, not even a fraction of Arewa is there; not even one percent. Unlike other areas, the Arewa community has gone very far ahead in other communities. They have a lot of councillors and vice chairmen, and our question is, why is Ajeromi /Ifelodun’s different?

Over the years, the group has been urged by their leaders to be patient. In the end nothing happens. Now, it looks like our patience has been exhausted. This time around, we are determined not to keep quiet.

The Arewa have always supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) because they have the numbers, but the politicians seem to forget this easily. I don’t know why they are treating us like this.  We are being unjustly marginalised and relegated to the background despite our full support for APC. We want them to tell us where we went wrong and why we don’t have rights here.

Despite producing graduates, and men and women of substance in the community, none of our people were engaged by the council. Let them give us the slots and see whether we will not fill them.

• Alhaji Maikudi  Babakarah, Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Lagos State.