The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Death at DAWN: Famakinwa died remaking the Southwest

    Death at DAWN: Famakinwa died remaking the Southwest

    ‘He was an extreme workaholic. He didn’t see problems. If you go to him and say there is a problem, he would listen to you and, after a few minutes, Dipo would bring out the
    possibilities in the problem. He did not take ‘No’ for an answer. He would always find a way out. You will literally drag Dipo away from his table at the closing hour’

    There was a loud cry at the Cocoa House headquarters of the Southwest development agency, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission on Friday April 21. It was the announcement of the death of its Director-General and chief executor of the vision, Mr Dipo Famakinwa.

    The news immediately threw the development house into mourning for many reasons.

    One, Famakinwa set up the agency and recruited every member of staff. Two, he directed the activities of the technical work group that developed the DAWN Strategy Document, and on the back of that, led and coordinated the processes that culminated in the setting up of the Commission. Three, Famakinwa left a thriving business to lead DAWN, just as he pulled his Deputy, Mr Seye Oyeleye, from a very gainful employment and shining career to join him for a rather less paid job and selfless service at the commission.

    Four, Famakinwa worked against all odds to bring the six Southwest states together to pursue development agenda through the platform of the DAWN Commission. Five, Famakinwa offered an uncommon leadership to his team and members of staff to the level that they all embraced and unconsciously developed similar passion for the regional development vision. Six, Famakinwa was excessively passionate about remaking the Southwest. He was an icon of hope to every Yoruba that was getting despair about the receding Nigeria.

    As Oyeleye recalled, the late D-G would sometimes bring out the portraits of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Akintola, looked at them intently and declared: “But these people did not have two heads, Seye. They had only one head like ours. Then, nothing should stop us from achieving or even doing better than they.

    “We can recreate the past. We can recreate the old Western Region where everything was first- first skyscraper and first television station, among other things. We can go back to that era without scrapping states.”

    It was not only the DAWN family that was thrown into mourning. The house of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), the socio-political organisation of exceptional technocrats and other Yoruba eggheads that envisioned the DAWN Commission was also thrown into mourning.

    The Yoruba Academy, the organisation Famakinwa led before moving over to the DAWN Commission was deep in mourning. So were the six governors of the Southwest states of Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ondo.

    Civil servants in the various state ministries who have been working with Famakinwa on various DAWN intervention programmes were shocked. Politicians, academics, youths who have had one thing or the other to do with DAWN were all shocked. Indeed, the house of Oduduwa is mourning the demise of a young man who spent the last eight years preaching development and breaking barriers against southwest regional development.

    Famakinwa, 49, was an entrepreneur and development technocrat.

    As D-G, he provided strategic insight and leadership towards delivering on the vision and mission of the southwest development agenda.

    While serving as D-G, Famakinwa led his team to achieve a lot in integrating the Southwest states for development.

    He succeeded in establishing the Southwest Governors’ Forum which made the six governors to work together as development partners of the region. Though the move suffered a setback after the initial inauguration of the commission in July, 2013, Famakinwa’s DAWN succeeded in making the governors overcome party differences to come together on the same table in reviving the idea in November last year. They met at the Oyo State Governor’s Office, Ibadan.

    The second one was held in February in Ekiti Government House while the third quarterly meeting was to be hosted by Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on April 24. It was cancelled at the last minute to honour the deceased.

    Famakinwa’s DAWN worked on creating regional collaborative solutions through different programmes, including Heads of Service Strategy Briefing on the DAWN Development Index, Regional Workshop on Security, Law and Order in the Southwest and the Pre-inaugural Meeting of the Regional Technical Team on Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability in the Southwest.

    It also developed strategic roadmaps with its OneBloc Document, a framework for organising Southwest Nigeria for global competitiveness. DAWN developed Homeland Strategy Document – a high-level attention document for Yoruba Homeland Affairs.

    It hosted a Strategy Retreat on the Southwest Creative Economy which was sponsored by the Oyo State Government. It also made preparation for the presentation of the Southwest Creative Economy Strategy Document in the final stages.

    Famakinwa’s DAWN also worked on Social and Human Development Strategy in the Southwest, developed the Southwest Nigeria Sports Development Strategic Plan of Action and also organised a strategy retreat on S o u t h w e s t E c o n o m i c Competitiveness Strategy which was sponsored by the Lagos State Government.

    The commission also developed an Integrated Commercial Agriculture Development Programme for Southwest Nigeria.

    DAWN also organised the Southwest Governance Innovation Conference, held a roundtable on Education Development and Advancement in the Southwest which was hosted by Osun State Government on June 20, last year.

    Since last year, Famakinwa’s DAWN held Stakeholders’ Workshop on Urbanisation and Economic Corridors as catalyst for economic development (Northern and Southern Nigeria) held in June, last year at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja and Eko Hotel, Lagos State which was co-hosted with the World Bank.

    It also held Optimisation Dialogue on Solid Minerals Development and Exploration in Southwest Nigeria as well as Optimisation Dialogue on Digital and ICT Sector in Southwest Nigeria.

    It is currently working on a project in partnership with the World Bank on Enhancing the Economic Performance of the Lagos–Ibadan Corridor and another in partnership with the DFID with the title: “New Vision for Agriculture: Building a Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Southwest Nigeria.

    Recalling how Famakinwa made every member of staff buy into the DAWN vision, Mr Oyeleye said: “He would say there is no looking back. We have put our hands in this plough and there is no looking back. Apart from being young and having the energy to drive the vision, he believed in it and had the passion for remaking the West.”

    Describing the experience of working with the deceased, he said: “He was an extreme workaholic. He didn’t see problems. If you go to him and say there is a problem, he would listen to you and, after a few minutes, Dipo would bring out the possibilities in the problem. He did not take ‘No’ for an answer. He would always find a way out. You will literally drag Dipo away from his table at the closing hour.

    “There is no money here. The work here is an intellectual work. If Dipo was looking for money, he would not have been here. He always came up with ideas. And he always worked out ideas with me.

    “There were times we had challenges. But because of the way he related with members of the team, they so much believed in him. He was not a typical boss.

    “Trying to bring six governors to believe in this dream was a very tough task.”

    The big shoes left by Famakinwa can only be worn by a thoroughbred technocrat with rich experience and passion for the development of the Southwest region.

    Famakinwa had more than 24 years of extensive and high-profile professional experience serving various sectors within the Nigerian and multi-national markets. He had led successful missions in the provision of management services to clients in financial services, aviation, retail, oil and gas, among others, and had also managed diverse talents and teams across functional areas.

    Among others, he worked at senior levels at Landover Aviation Company Limited (Business Manager) and Vigeo Oil and Gas Limited (Group Head/Regional Manager, Niger Delta).

    In 2006, Dipo founded Famedge Travel and Logistics Services Limited, a management services company providing air travel and logistics support to middle market and high-end clients, and later, from 2008, worked as Head Consultant/CEO of Bluehall Advisory Services, a leading-edge firm of consultants in management, capacity building and strategy consulting.

    Dipo was a member of the Oyo State Social and Economic Management Team (OSSEMAT), he was also on the Osun State Public Service Reform Committee, and led the consulting team that developed the Ekiti State Service Compact and Citizens’ Charter.

    Dipo was also involved with the KPMG/Bluehall team that conducted the Strategic Health-Check Review on all the companies under Odua Investment Company Limited.

    A certified quality auditor, Dipo was an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, the Lagos Business School, and Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

  • Ooni: A chip off old block

    Ooni: A chip off old block

    In March last year, Ooni Ogunwusi caused some stir by choosing as his queen, a young cousin of mine-Sonia Otiti (Wuraola) Obanor. That decision and its consummation may well signal the beginning of a new fire that could possibly open a fresh page of history on the pile of the old Benin-Ife fraternal co-operation. But that is subject for another day.

    I remember every now and then this encounter with the Ooni’s father at both Benin City and Ife where the nuptial ceremonies took place. The amiable Ooni Ogunwusi Ojaja11 sent his father and other royal emissaries to fetch his bride. We obliged him and then joined him at the Royal Court of Ife the next day for the final public act.

    What struck me was an uncanny display of meekness and good breeding by the senior Ogunwusi who was flanked by his gorgeously attired and stately queen of a wife. Given our complicated world, together they put simplicity on a pedestal that only the discerning may be able to appreciate. The kind of richness of appearance that can be regarded as simple majesty!

    Baba Ogunwusi navigated through the fluffy end of the ceremony with a stand out comportment, humility and calmness and thoroughly enjoyed the rendition of the Igun eronmwon song at the home of the bride’s father. As soon as I introduced myself to him as a journalist and former Foreign Affairs Editor of the Guardian, he beamed with smile and said with glee and warmth “oh my colleague from the Fourth Estate of the Realm” And anytime we came near each other, he would initiate a handshake. He cut the picture of a man of frankness. I was told he had been a radio and television anchor and star presenter in the eighties and that he had also brought honour to the profession. But it is not every now and then that society witnesses an era of an Ooni with a father…

    Meeting important personalities locally and internationally is one of the things the journalistic trade freely grants. One has had cause to engage presidents, the very cream of the diplomatic, political, business and traditional personalities and to sustain such relationships beyond the confines of offices, summits, conferences and lounges.

    But prior to March last year, I’d had business at the Ile Oodua only once. I recall meeting the late Ooni Okunade Sijuade at his palace on a somewhat different setting from last March’s.

    It was sometime around 2002 when the Federal Government had already awarded the contract to make the Ife-Ibadan highway dual carriageway.

    As a journalist on tour of the western states with Chief Tony Anenih who was then Works Minister, we were at the Ooni’s palace and the very regale and excited Sijuwade pointed at Anenih just as the head of delegation approached his royal dais to take his seat beside him. He spoke some Yoruba and then was very effusive with praises and prayers.

    Something like: “Anenih, you made this possible? This is what we have been asking for, for years now. The Almighty would bless you, you will go far… and whatever you ask of him and us would be granted to you…” he said.

    In both Benin City and Ife, Senior Ogunwusi never sought to throw his weight around using any of the well-known Nigerian ‘big man’ tactic as the father of arguably the biggest traditional ruler in Yoruba land. After all, he has since made history as the first father of a living Ife king. I am convinced that the senior Ogunwusi’s breeding, has most certainly rubbed off on the Ooni leaving Nigeria with a remarkably humble royal personality.

    Back to Ife, the Ooni received everybody that came into his palace as persons related to his new queen and generally, the people who came in from Benin City. You could hold up his hand during a handshake and converse.

    For instance, you could say: Kabieyi, I look forward to meeting you again in Abuja, etc… and being born with grace, he would listen to you give a heartfelt response.

    When the Ooni left the reception hall with the usual ululation by praise singers and his band of gong-beating bards, it appeared as though he was retiring for the day. With his pose, he went round the rebuilt reception area to the left of his main residence where some other royal fathers were being feted, he greeted them one after the other before entering the mansion containing his inner chamber within the palace grounds-an imposing edifice completed in 1937 by the late Ooni Adesoji Aderemi. Here, as you would expect are on display some paraphernalia of royalty. The entire floor is white carpeted with the seal of the Ooni embossed on it.

    Remarkably, after about an hour and half, Ooni Ogunwusi came back into the reception Marquee upon learning that the big groove in honour of his wedding was still on. Oba or no Oba, the Ooni did not betray his constituency as he swung gracefully to the delight of the young men and women, including students of the Obafemi Awolowo University as they played Kabiyesi by Dr. Sid and Don Jazy.

    This Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi has the entire imperial swagger and then something more: A calm mien, ability to relate with people irrespective of caste/class permutations. That he could connect well, were all on display at Ife.

    You might argue that for a persona occupying the exalted Ife stool, the humility of king Adeyeye stems from the fact that he is a very young man. But he was not born last night either. That “young man’s” talks count for nothing in the circumstance when good breeding is on display.

    And never mind that before the wedding, there were some disturbing, maybe sinisterly sponsored media publications. The Ooni refused to join the throng who wanted to condemn what was revealed later to be a sacrosanct choice. He instead restored his Olori preferring to walk the lane of men of uncanny wisdom.

    What is on the diary is that the people of Ife, ‘migrants’ and visitors alike, had unlimited fun inside the Ooni’s reception marquee. And the way he is going, he would continue to win more friends. He will be disarming many with his humility and gracefulness beyond his handsome face and lotus eyes

    Surely, if as it is said that the Ooni does not measure the amount of olive oil in his salad, then a combination of factors: Good breeding, divine fortune, distinctive personality, a man at home with his people, and an obvious heart of gold marks him out as someone who would be loved and respected by the people of Ile-Ife. In the days to come, the people of Ife and those who lay claim to the Oduduwa House would regard the coming into history of Ooni Ojaja 11 as something to be especially cherished.

    With King Ogunwusi, Ife should never be the same again. Besides the mythic validation by predestination, his father prince Oluropo Ogunwusi must have been carefully chosen also as the vessel to nurse such an important personality for his people. Meaning, as the Ooni reigns, we must always remember his father. It has to be, that so much of the good breeding was imparted on the king by the patron father.

  • Ambode to Baales: ‘Collude with criminals, be dethroned’

    Ambode to Baales: ‘Collude with criminals, be dethroned’

    Any Baales or chiefs found to be collaborating with militants and other criminals to destabilise Lagos State would have their title revoked, dethroned and prosecuted, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said.

    “Once you (the chiefs) are identified, you are gone,” he added.

    Reading the riot act to hundreds of Baales and chiefs at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Ambode said the government would not fold its arms while some unscrupulous elements collude with hoodlums to make the state ungovernable.

    He spoke through the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs Mr Muslim Folami.

    Folami said the meeting with all the Part II and Part III Baales and chiefs was sequel to the one organised at the palace of the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi penultimate weekend where the Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni revealed that security reports had indicted some of the chiefs of aiding and abetting the militants in causing mayhem in the division.

    The discovery, according to Folami, made the government to resolve to apply the full weights of the law henceforth against any Baale or chiefs caught colluding with any criminal in the state.

    “To show you how serious we were, the governor directed that we summon all of you from all the five divisions of the state to inform you of our resolve as a government to protect lives and properties of all Lagosians and in doing this, we would deal decisively with anyone found colluding with criminals to disturb the peace-loving people of Lagos.”

    Early this month, militants had stormed the riverside community of Ishawo, in Ikorodu, killing a military captain, five other policemen and dozens of residents.

    Only recently, rival cult gangs had overrun some streets in Mushin causing mayhem, killing and destroying people’s properties.

    He said the government would continue to invest in the security architecture of the state with a view to being responsive to the safety needs of the people.

    “The Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, which we just established is another initiative by the government to secure all neighbourhoods from attacks from kidnappers, cultists, militants, vandals and other criminals threatening the peace of the state,” he said.

    He admonished all chiefs and Baales to be fully committed to helping the government to nip the spate of violence in the bud and not to join hands with undesirable elements to destroy the state.

    Folami also addressed the issue of land grabbing; urging these chiefs and community leaders to eschew greed, adding that anyone caught fomenting trouble in any part of the state would no longer be spared.

    In their response, the Baales and chiefs urged the government not to hesitate to flush out undesirable elements.

    One of the Baales, the Alakan of Imota Chief Abudu Sani, also called for transparency in the war against crime, alleging that some unscrupulous elements within the police also collude with criminals to destabilise their various communities.

    He said the Baales and chiefs would continue to collaborate with the government in order to sanitise the state.

  • ‘How we handle land grabbing cases’

    ‘How we handle land grabbing cases’

    ‘In handling cases, we first employ the method of mediation which has surprisingly been the most successful before we move on to others. A lot of people get frustrated about the time it takes to go to court but we have, more or less, provided them an alternative
    and most times they co-operate’.

    Major role of Task Force

    The major role of the task force is to eliminate the menace of land grabbing in Lagos State by implementing the provisions of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law 2016, which has prescribed various terms of imprisonment for the crimes under the law.

    Petitions treated

    since inauguration

    We have received about 1,300 petitions from the public since the Task Force was inaugurated and we have resolved up to 400 of them. We are not resting on our oars as work is currently ongoing on others.

    Methods adopted

    in handling cases

    We use various means in resolving these issues such as reconciliation, mediation and we have had to use force in some places. We have made arrests; there are some places under investigation. We also have a few cases in court.

    Parties’ response

    to cases treated

    In handling cases, we first employ the method of mediation which has surprisingly been the most successful before we move on to others. A lot of people get frustrated about the time it takes to go to court but we have, more or less, provided them an alternative and most times they co-operate.

    People understand that we have the force of law and government backing. So, whenever we call them for discussions, both parties usually have it at the back of their mind that this is government talking to them.

    A lot of time, we have found out that majority of these issues emanate from lack of communication. So, we provide the parties with the opportunities to talk together. Whenever we hold such discussions, we make the parties to enter into memorandum of understanding which is binding.

    Use of charms by Omo Onile

    I’ve heard people say it and each time they do, I just retort to them that here, we work with physical things. For instance, if harm was done to you by machetes, we can deal with that but we can’t deal with whatever we can’t see.

    So far, we have heard such allegations but never encountered any. When we go out on operations, the people warn us that those we want to go and confront are fetish and powerful. However, those things have never affected us; maybe because we don’t believe in them. We don’t have any mechanism in tackling them; we only deal with physical things.

    Rent from landlords

    after land purchase

    Whatever people do by way of agreement, I mean if they agree among themselves that after buying, you’ll pay a rent every year, all they are saying is that your land is a lease; you are not paying me outright payment.

    In some places, it is as low as N500; just a little amount to show that you are a tenant on the land. A case like that is completely legal and we have no issue with it. Where we have problem is when there is no agreement to that effect and somebody just wakes up and say you have to pay me for this land. That kind of person will have to face the Lagos State government.

    Challenges

    The major challenge faced by the task force is in relation to the police. The culture of the parties to land disputes using the police against one another had been so engrained that it has become difficult for some of the various police formations to accept that they don’t have the power to deal with land disputes other than to ensure that law and order are maintained.

    There is also the problem of lawyers aiding and abetting land grabbers in the name of carrying out a brief. We have thus received many court summons challenging our powers, especially when their clients are in the wrong side of the law.

    There’s also the challenge of lack of land documentation for many of our people in Lagos State.  We, therefore, take this opportunity to advise our people to take steps to document their land holding with Lands Bureau.

    Demolition of

    Otodo Gbame community

    I am not speaking for the government on this because I don’t have a brief. But what we have discovered in the course of our work is that when people are allowed to stay in a place for a long period of time, they tend to take ownership of the place. When such people settle, they erect buildings that don’t have government’s approval.

    They cannot approach the government for approval because they are not entitled to the land and various administrations allow them to stay in compassion and that is when such people start to feel they have right to the land; meanwhile they don’t. That is the case in many shanties in Lagos and government cannot fold its arms to the dangers of living conditions in these places. I am sure that some panacea will be provided for them in resettlement.

    Seeking redress

    The law specifically requires that anybody who has a grievance should send a petition to us; addressed to the Chairman of Lagos State Special Task Force on Land Grabbers and we can take it up from there. They should put in their petition all the details, facts, supporting documents on the land in question and they should make effort at including details of those they are accusing so that we will know who we are dealing with.

    They should also accompany their petition with an affidavit. The law requires that they bring along sworn affidavit so that we could punish those who bring us frivolous petitions. We have received many petitions in which it is the land grabber who is writing petition against the actual owner of the land; thinking that they can come and tell us lies. The affidavit will affirm that they have lied and that is punishable under the Lagos State law.

    Contacts

    Yes, whenever they are in actual distress, they can call us on 09020085005, 09096667123.

  • Youths urge free, fair party primary

    Youths urge free, fair party primary

    A chieftain of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya has urged leaders of Oshodi Local Government Area, Lagos not to impose candidates on the electorate during the party’s primary for the forthcoming local government election.

    He said the party did not field some popular aspirants in the 2015 elections which led to the emergence of the candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives and Lagos State House of Assembly.

    He noted that Oshodi is one of the major communities in Lagos State that contributes to the overall development of the state, stressing that it is the stronghold of the APC.

    “The local government election that is on the way and with reference to Oshodi LGA, which is one of the popular areas in Lagos, has been in the news for the good, bad and ugly.

    “We that are residents of Oshodi understand the intrigues of the council. We are aware of what is happening and wish to use this medium to tell Governor Akinwunmi Ambode that he should prevail on the elders of the council not to impose any candidate on the electorate in the forthcoming election.

    “We saw hell in the 2015 elections due to the invasion of Oshodi by the opposition. They were supported by federal might and used all sorts of obnoxious acts to undermine the election process.

    “I want the government to create a level playing ground that will ensure that only a popular candidate is allowed to fly the ticket of the APC. We should avoid the mistakes of the past, which gave the opposition the opportunity to encroach on the APC stronghold in the last election.”

    Akinsanya further explained that the youth were fully ready for the council polls, noting that he would mobilise them for a successful outing during the election.

    “Oshodi is a great council in Lagos State and would not be fair to allow the opposition party to encroach into it because they have nothing to offer the people. Our elders should be prevailed upon to support the popular candidates in the coming elections.

    “The residents are ready for the election and they are going to support only the popular candidate to win the election for APC.

    “Former President Goodluck Jonathan never gave us peace during the 2015 elections. We were running for our dear lives. They used soldiers, thugs and all manner of people to terrorise us. I had to escape from the country through Cotonou, Republic of Benin to Saudi Arabia.

    “The only caution ahead is for the APC to produce a popular candidate during its primary. There should not be any form of imposition of candidate by leaders in Oshodi LGA, so that what happened in the past does not happen again.

    “Again, I am confident that the APC has learnt its lessons. I believe it will organise a free and fair primary which the people will be proud to support,” he said.

  • Lagos: Secrets of the success story

    “The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams,” 

    The allure of Lagos is real-awesome in its power; seductively magnetic.  Lagos is a place where it is safe to dream, if you are determined to make it real.

    Lagos has variously been described, as: “Land of Promise”,  “Promised Land”, “Home for All”, “Land of Commerce”, “Land of Performance”,  “Land of Aquatic Splendour and Tourism” and “Centre of Learning”.

    Some call it land of peace, of hope, of opportunity, of business, of legacies and of freedom among others. Mere 0.4% of Nigeria’s territorial land mass, Lagos harbours more than 21 million, or 18 per cent of Nigerians of different ethnic and religious groups; it has over 62 per cent of industrial and commercial interest. Lagos’s Internally Generated Revenue of 287 billion in December last year,-about 76 per cent of its total revenue- was more than that of 20 states of the nation’s 36 states.

    The promise of Lagos is alive and well! With over 54 per cent of the country’s manufacturing employment, Lagos is the 2nd largest economy in Nigeria, 3rd in Sub-Saharan Africa and about seven or eight in Africa. It is the 7th fastest growing economy in the World, and even when it is already growing in leaps and bound, Lagos will surely experience a real exponential growth.

    With the recent discovery of crude oil in the state, it is poised for special federal revenue allocation that other oil-producing states enjoy; what will be the largest refinery in Africa, or probably in the World, is projected for completion soon, Lekki Free Trade Zone, massive infrastructural rehabilitation and construction and integrated mass transportation system is going on at frenetic pace.

    With dynamic, dedicated and visionary leadership, Lagos continues to promote and project best practices and reforms to ease administration, business and financial operations. The fact that IGR has increased so dramatically to N436 billion this year, is a pointer to the fact that a sound, sustainable revenue mobilisation measures have taken root.

    On viability of Lagos State, the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said: “…is a land of opportunities, offering all residents the chance to succeed in their vocations and endeavours….a place where you have a chance to make it if you work hard…Lagos provides the cohesion that keeps Nigeria together.”

    In fact, there is a popular maxim among Lagosians that “if you come to Lagos and you are not smart (not able to make headway), you cannot do that anywhere else on the planet, even in America!” Perhaps, the key word is “hard work” and, of course prayer.

    Thus, the dream of most Nigerians is to experience Lagos first, even if they have to travel abroad in quest of more fortune. In fact, virtually all Nigerians who have made it to the top in all areas of life have done so, directly or indirectly, with Lagos connections.

    Lagos as a land of hope and of opportunity, or where in Nigeria could one be hawking bread on the street, in one moment, a nondescript and the next, a celebrity!

    “Lagos a Home for All”, means Nigeria will not break because Lagos is the adhesive holding Nigerians together.

    Certain significant occurrences attest to this assertion. Have we ever pondered why all civilian governors since the First Republic, Lateef Jakande, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Raji Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode- except the short three months period of Michael Otedola in 1983- have always been progressive, visionary, role models, achievers by far margin among their peers?

    This is acclaimed even by their adversaries. Have you examined why virtually all these governors went on to assume greater national responsibilities and influence after their respective tenure?

    Have we explored the reasons why Lagos was never conquered by ruling political party in 1983 and 2003? Recall, the malevolent “landslide” (or was it Moonslide) election of National Party of Nigeria (NPN) at the end of the Second Republic.

    Governor Lateef Jakande of Lagos, and Governor Olabisi Onabanjo of Ogun States survived, “annexation” of the Unity Party states unscratched (of course Chief Obafemi Awolowo was from Ogun State); while Pa Michael Adekunle Ajasin of Ondo State had to bitterly fight it to the Supreme Court, to reclaim his mandate from Akin Omoboriowo, of the ruling party, after much bloodletting that culminated into December 1983 coup of General Muhammadu Buhari and Col. Tunde Idiagbon.

    Fast-track to 2003, when the evil tsunami of 2003 election, swallowed all the progressive states, but  was unable to consume Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Lagos, which remained the bulwark and rallying point for the progressives till date.

    True, Jakande put Lagos in the sun, but it was Asiwaju Tinubu that really repaired and strengthened the foundation, deeply eroded since 1983. Governor Fashola constructed solid structure on it, while Governor Ambode propelled construction to astronomical height- IGR was N300 million in 1999; it is N436 billion now.

    When Southern and Northern Protectorates were amalgamated as Nigeria in 1914, Lagos was chosen over Calabar as federal capital. Was it by prayer, pre-destination, pure chance or divine intervention? Lagos is a centre of unity and freedom; maybe the reason that state remains the only one with its boundary intact since 1967.

    Have we pondered why Lagos State has the full mix of variables that cause sustainable development, successions of visionary democratic  leaders who continue to transmit models for good governance, proactive civil service, dynamic and egalitarian population, appropriate climatic and environmental condition and  peace and harmonious co-existence of diverse groups and interests.

    Some would say faith, some would say destiny. But virtually all would agree that prayer and perseverance for excellence by Lagosians-leaders and the led-is key for Lagos State’s successes. The reason for the establishment of Home Affairs Ministry is primarily to take care of the spiritual yearnings of Lagosians, reinforce our faith in the destiny of Lagos, promote this state of concord, care and love, inspire us to work harder without fear and secure our sustainable growth.

  • Ondo communities clash over land

    Okerisa-Aruwayo and Iwada, two neighbouring communities near Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State are in dispute over a piece of land.

    Already, concerned residents of Okerisa-Aruwayo have urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and security agents to rescue them from the people of Iwada community as they are reportedly fleeing the community because of incessant attacks.

    Spokesman of the community, Morakinyo Erifoluwa alleged that the ‘invaders’ stormed the village penultimate weekend, driving the inhabitants away from their ancestral homes.

    He said: “On the morning of Thursday, someone told us that the road to our village had been barricaded but we did not believe it.

    “On Friday, however, around 7:00 p.m., we heard several gunshots. We did not know what to do. Everybody ran helter-skelter for dear lives.

    “It was later we learnt that the invaders were from Iwada, our neigbouring village. They have been terrorising us and causing trouble for our people.”

    Morakinyo, who said the village was attacked because of land dispute pending at the Court of Appeal in Akure said the invasion was unreasonable.

    He said: “In March 2015, one of our sons, an undergraduate, was murdered on the land and his corpse could not be recovered till today.

    “On March 23, last year, the Okitipupa High Court ceded a portion of our land to the Iwada people. Not satisfied with the judgment; we proceeded to the Appeal Court for redress.

    “Since the case is before the court, our people have stayed away from the land even as the people of Iwada are harvesting our cash crops in contempt of the court. We wonder why they keep on attacking us.”

    According to him, the case was reported to the head of the community, Chief Albert Epebinu at Ilutitun who mobilised a team of young men to the village and assess the extent of damage done to their properties.

    He said when they got to the village, they discovered that their buildings had been vandalised with food stuffs and valuables carted away, stressing that the case was then reported at the Igbotako Police Station.

    Morakinyo pointed out that policemen were deployed to the scene and they saw things for

    themselves.

    Among items they allegedly carted away were one big power generating set, seven spraying machines; 13 rolls of yam tubers from a barn, 15 (20 litters) kegs of palm oil, garri frying trays, among other things.

    Epebinu confirmed the story of a disputed land between the two communities, and wondered why this should happen when his people have dwelled on the land for over 300 years.

    He pointed out that Okerisa Aruwayo is sharing boundaries with Irowa, Okerisa Lulawo and Iwada and there was no problem among the neighbours.

    However, the Baale of Iwada, Chief Raphael Ajisola said the people of Okerisa Aruwayo were only sojourners on the land.

    He said: “I have a copy of the judgment by the High Court, Okitipupa which ruled that the land belongs to Iwada.

    He denied the claim that the attackers were from Iwada.

    Police spokesman in the State, Femi Joseph a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was aware of the communal crisis, adding that the case was under investigations.

  • Free medical service for Lagos community

    Free medical service for Lagos community

    In its resolve to ensure the well-being of residents of the area, the Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area has begun medical mission. It was aimed at providing free medical advice, check-up, treatment and minor surgery for members of the community.

    The free medical mission that was organised by the Sole Administrator, Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area, Mr. Bashir Aare in collaboration with Association of Nigerian Physicians in America (ANPA) took place at the Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos.

    Speaking during the inauguration of the event, the council chief said he was able to partner with the organisation because he is a foundation member of the Nigeria in the Diaspora Organisation America and has a affable relationship with the medical chapter.

    Mr Aare said the initiative became necessary because few people have access to health care given our population and meagre available resources.  He reiterated that the objective was to ensure a healthy community using the Local Council Development Area as a focal point for mobilisation of community members to come for treatment.

    Also addressing some of the beneficiaries, the leader of the team Dr. Adeyanju Johnson said immediate diagnosis and treatment will serve as immediate prevention for some diseases.  Dr. Adeyanju encouraged the people to come out for the treatment of their ailments while others whose cases require immediate but minor surgery would be attended to.

    Two of the beneficiaries, Mr. Habeeb Abbas and Madam Maria Adeyanju appreciated the initiative and thanked the Sole Administrator for arranging the event that will bring succour to those who have some health challenges in the community.

  • ‘Akeredolu is committed to workers’ welfare’

    ‘Akeredolu is committed to workers’ welfare’

    Babatunde Osho is a civil servant in Ondo State. For  eight months, he had not received his salaries. That was during the tenure of the immediate past administration. Things were really very tough and rough for Ondo State’s civil servants. But that seems to be consigned in the trash can of history.

    Quite recently, the unusual happened. The father of four received an unusual message on his phone; which turned out to be a credit alert.

    At first, he was not sure what type of alert it was. But when he looked closely again, he realised that it was yet another credit alert for his salary for the month of March, less than one month when he received that of February.

    As if that was not enough, he received credit alert for that month’s salary and a week after, there was another credit alert for August, last year’s outstanding salary arrear owed by the past administration.

    As a civil servant in the employ of the Ondo State government, it was the first time Osho would get his salary for two straight months since eight months because of the failure of the immediate past administration to pay the workers.

    Like other civil servants in the state, his life took a turn for the worse as days turned into weeks and weeks into months without any hope of getting his salaries.

    His children changed schools because he could not afford their fees, while the entire family survived on the meagre earnings from the wife’s petty trading.

    For months, Osho, the usually boisterous fellow, had become a shadow of himself. Aside from his inability to take care of his family, the father of four was also battling with some serious health challenges.

    The credit alerts received by the workers, which notified them of the payment of their salaries marked the beginning of a new dawn for civil servants in the Sunshine State.

    “For seven months, we were not paid our salaries. Most of the civil servants had lost hope of ever getting paid. But, with the fulfilment of the promise that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) made to us, by paying the salary for the month of February and the vow that he would not owe workers, I am sure that the hopes of civil servants have been rekindled once again,” Osho said.

    Eniola Ajewole is another worker whose joy knew no bounds when he received the credit alert for his salary.

    It would seem that the alert he received lifted a heavy load off his shoulders. With the February and March salaries paid, he was able to pay his two children’s tuition and meet other domestic needs without stress–a feat he could not achieve for months under the immediate past administration.

    “I couldn’t believe it when I received the credit alert. But my cynicism began to wane when my neighbour, who is also a civil servant, confirmed to me that he had also received credit alert,” Ajewole said.

    The narratives of the duo and many other workers in the state have dispelled fears of sceptics about the readiness of Governor Akeredolu to develop the state with priority placed on welfare of the workforce.

    The payment of the workers’ salaries, beginning from February, has confirmed that Akeredolu is ever ready to keep his promise.

    The effect of Akeredolu’s message of hope during his swearing-in on February 24 to make life easy for the people has therefore started reverberating cross the state.

    The governor, who had set a clear agenda for himself on how to place Ondo State on the map of economic and industrial development, appears set to work with the available resources to move the state forward.

    Akeredolu’s inaugural speech entitled “Journey to Redemption,” had clearly shown the path the governor is now towing.

    Before the people of Ondo State and dignitaries that attended his inaugu ration at the popular Akure Township Stadium, Akeredolu had said: “I come to you this day, with a message of hope, a clear agenda of prosperity and vision of life abundant.

    “I believe the greatest expression of faith in our ability is to be strong enough to look upon imperfections and decide that it is in our power to remake our society to align with our highest ideals.

    “We can rise out of this dust and build a new Ondo State where honesty, prosperity and confidence can, once again, be our self-identity. We can pull ourselves by the bootstraps and shake off our current frustrations and disappointments.

    “We must recognise the need for a cohesive platform, indispensable to an effective and efficient implementation of policies and programmes of both government and party, respectively.”

    With the latest development, it is certain that the governor will take the Sunshine State to a greater height.

    This development is an indication that all the businesses that have gone moribund for years due to poor management of the state’s resources by previous administrations would soon get back on track.

    This is because the governor has assured the workers of his determination to pay the backlog of salary arrears he inherited.

    The ripple effects of the governor’s attempt to meet this important people’s need (payment of the backlog of workers’ salary arrears) will, no doubt, contribute to peaceful co-existence among residents.

    Without doubt, the road to achieving this lofty objective demands co-operation of all, including the civil servants and those in the informal sector such as traders and artisans.

  • Pain as NRC demolishes illegal structures

    Pain as NRC demolishes illegal structures

    These people (NRC officials) have finished me. There is nothing my children and I will eat again. As you can see, my source of livelihood has just been destroyed by the Railway Corporation. I don’t know where to start again. As I am talking to you, I don’t have anything again…We are not aware of any rent paid by the occupants of the illegal structures.

    So, everything has ended today,” Mrs Adijat Olowonyo, 76, uttered in hushed tone as she sat hopelessly on the rubbles of her wooden shelter demolished by a task force working on the orders of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

    Her son, Monsuru, 32, and three grandchildren, who lived in the shanty with her, burrowed through the debris to pick any valuable materials left under the heap of logs and plywood. Looking dazed and forlorn, Mrs Olowonyo, a petty trader, wept in silence as the bulldozer ripped through a row of shanties, leaving a trail of wreckage in a neighbourhood she has lived ‘comfortably’ for 35 years.

    “I don’t know where to go from here,” Mrs Olowonyo retorted when the reporter asked what her next move was.

    Apparently helpless, she said: “I knew this place does not belong to me, but I did not know I will leave railway line in this (embarrassing) manner.”

    Mrs Olowonyo, who is a native of Ifo Local Government Area in Ogun State, said: “I will return to my village.”

    Had she been given ample time to prepare for the demolition, she said she would have suffered minimal loss, because she would have moved her belongings out peaceably to a safe location. But, the notice was short, just as the loss she suffered was incalculable.

    This aptly described the tears, pain, agony and anxiety of residents of railway, following the demolition of illegal structures and shanties built along rail track. No fewer than 2,000 shanties have been demolished in the exercise, which began from railway corridors in Mushin to Yaba, Surulere, Oshodi, Ikeja, Iju-Ishaga, Agbado and Alakuko, among others.

    The demolition was carried out by NRC Committee for Removal of Illegal Structures led by Mr Anthony Ochuko Onyokoko.

    At Mushin axis, the demolition started at 8:00 a.m. when many of the traders were yet to open for business.

    The exercise is to pave the way for the commencement of the 155-kilometre Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge modern rail project of the Federal Government, which was launched in February by the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Managing Director of the NRC, Fidet Okhiria, at a press conference said no “illegal structure” built within 50 feet from the railway line would be spared by the corporation’s bulldozers, pointing out that only property owners with valid documents would be compensated.

     

    Victims’ painful laments

     

    Before the demolition, the railway corridors were dotted with brick and wooden structures, which served as shelters for deprived families and vagabonds. The entire perimeter of the railway corridors used to be separated from the residential area by iron fence placed 50 feet away from the rail track.

    As human activities increased around the corridors, the iron fence was pulled down and shanties were raised along the track, leaving a dangerous distance of about four feet away from the rail track. Crimes also thrived in the neighbourhood, because it housed criminals and smokers of Indian hemp.

    Some of the residents converted the space for trading, building makeshift shops and kiosks. However, the residents did not just move to occupy the space illegally. They claimed the NRC gave them “informal approval” to build the structures along the railway corridors.

    Southwest Report gathered that some of the residents began living on the railway line in the early 1960s and paid regular rent and lease to the railway corporation.

    Pa Ebenezer Ogunyemi, whose three-room wooden shelter, was pulled down by the NRC’s bulldozer, claimed he usually paid rent to “designated official” of the corporation. In tears, Ogunyemi was hapless when the structures were pulled down by the NRC.

    A 39-year-old single mother of four, who identified herself as Iya Ibeji, said railway line became a new abode for her after she was ejected from her one-room apartment in nearby Akinbode Street. She said she paid rent to the railway corporation through a third party, which initially got NRC’s approval to build the structure.

    Iya Ibeji said: “I have been rendered homeless. There is no place in which my children and I will sleep again. Since my husband abandoned us many years ago, we have been surviving on the profit I made from my petty trade. I was ejected from a one-room apartment and I moved to this place some four years ago to start another life. Now that they have demolished everywhere, I don’t know where to go from here. I can’t afford to pay rent for a single room, because houses in Mushin are expensive.”

     

    Traders count losses

     

    Traders along the demolished railway corridors could not be consoled as they counted their losses. Mrs Kabirat Adeniji, 48, who operated a wholesale store of assorted drinks, rolled on the ground as her three concrete shops were pulled down by the bulldozer. She said she had recently stocked her shops with goods worth N500, 000.

    Mrs Adeniji, who said she rented the three shops 18 years ago, said: “These people (NRC officials) have finished me. There is nothing my children and I will eat again. As you can see, my source of livelihood has just been destroyed by the Railway Corporation. I don’t know where to start again. As I am talking to you, I don’t have anything again.”

    Mrs Bola Jacob, another trader, who opened a grocery shop in the railway corridor the previous week before the demolition, put her loss at N380, 000, because she did not have the opportunity to move her wares to a safe place.

    She said: “I moved to this place in early April, after paying two sets of rents; one to the landlord of the house which my shop is attached to and the other to a railway corporation official. If I had known the government is ready to demolish the structures on railway line, I would not have paid for the shop. I have lost close to N380, 000 worth of goods, because the demolition happened suddenly. I appeal to the government to help me, because I have lost everything I invested in the business.”

    Pelumi Aluko, a hairdresser, was lucky. She had moved all her machinery and other handy equipment out of the wooden shanty before the NRC’s bulldozer got to the spot. She, however, regretted paying rent to an NRC official days before the demolition.

     

    Fifty-Four-year-old

    mosque, churches gone

     

    While traders and residents lamented their losses, members of religious houses built on the railway corridors gathered to take stock of cost of the demolition. No fewer than eight churches, three mosques and two preparatory schools were reduced to rubbles in the exercise.

    Imam of a 54-year-old Orire Mosque demolished at Tinuola axis of the railway line, Alhaji Abdulazeez Ajetunmobi, said the mosque was built on the approval of the NRC.

    He said: “This mosque was built in 1963 and there was no prior notice for the demolition. We only saw the NRC officials a day before the demolition was carried out. They came to mark residential buildings and shops along the rail track for demolition. We were not told the demolition would be carried out the second day. Had we been notified, we would have started to relocate the mosque’s properties.

    I could not quantify in cash the amount we lost after the mosque was pulled down. Only last month, we spent N2.5 million to renovate the mosque and carried out some capital projects. We bought new sound system and mordernised the ceiling. These cost the mosque’s worshippers millions. Everything is gone now.”

    Coordinator of a demolished Sunday school of a Pentecostal church adjacent to the mosque, Mr Israel Komolafe, said the exercise took the church by surprise. He said the church had been occupying the space for 16 years and had been paying monthly rent to NRC officials. He said the corporation did not give notice to vacate the space.

    Prophet Eri Atobatele whose Cherubim and Seraphim (Ijo Temidire) Church was marked for demolition said he paid N275, 000 six months ago to rent the property. He appealed to NRC not to demolish the church, since it is far from the rail track.

    Arguments ensued between the NRC officials and a septuagenarian, Pa Madamidola Aremu, whose property, leased to Cherubim and Seraphim Church, was marked for demolition. Aremu, who claimed to have Queen’s Conveyance approving the perimeter of the property, accused NRC of encroachment on his property. He threatened to sue the corporation if the property is demolished.

     

    Notorious crime spot pulled down

     

    The demolition is probably a blessing in disguise for those living around Mushin Train Station. What is known as HQ – a dangerous smokers’ spot – was pulled down during demolition. Until it was cleared, HQ used to be dangerous corner for unwary passersby. It was den of narcotics abusers, smokers of Indian hemp and notorious bandits, who carried out their nefarious activities in broad daylight.

    Southwest Report learnt that the Lagos police taskforce had cleared the crime site many times in the last 20 years, but the effort was not successful because of the connivance of property owners around the axis whose houses were used as safe haven to store the unlawful items.

    The clearing of HQ may have excited the residents and frequent passersby, but it may be a temporary relief until the NRC permanently barricades its corridors from the buildings around the axis.

     

    ‘They gave us short notice’

     

    The victims complained that the railway corporation did not give them enough time to remove their properties and relocate before the demolition. Some of them could not pick their belongings while the bulldozer cleared the illegal shanties and concrete structures.

    Southwest Report gathered that the occupants got notice to vacate the shanties less than 24 hours before the exercise was carried out. It was also gathered that the NRC officials were in the area the previous day to mark the illegal structures for demolition. It took many of the traders by surprise when the NRC officials led a contingent of riot policemen to carry out the demolition the following day.

    While they admitted the corridors belong to the NRC, the affected persons accused the corporation of insensitivity, saying NRC was wrong not to give them time to relocate after its officials collected monthly rent from them.

    Some of them said the NRC’s Station Manager in Mushin, whose name was identified as Mr Ojo, collected rent in cash on behalf of the corporation.

    Mrs Aluko, a hairdresser, said her shop was demolished a day after she paid N2, 000 to the NRC official as rent. She wondered why the occupants were not notified of the demolition before they paid the rents.

    In protest, some of the traders besieged the Mushin station of the NRC to get back the rents paid to Ojo, who allegedly ran away on sighting the crowd.