{"id":31777,"date":"2025-08-28T04:01:37","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T04:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/?p=31777"},"modified":"2025-08-28T04:05:21","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T04:05:21","slug":"the-presence-of-igbos-others-in-lagos-is-lawful-dr-bolaji-akinyemi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/?p=31777","title":{"rendered":"The Presence of Igbos, Others in Lagos Is Lawful – Dr. Bolaji Akinyemi\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

I read with deep concern the unsigned and shameful document issued in the name of \u201cYoruba Elders Progressive Council (YEPC)\u201d titled \u201cOur Land, Our Identity: Lagos State Government Must Act Before We’re Made Strangers at Home.\u201d It is unfortunate that in 2025, in a democratic Nigeria where the Constitution reigns supreme, some cowards cloaked in the name of Yoruba elders still find it acceptable to publish ethnic bile and incite division without the courage to sign their names.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a proud Yoruba son, a senior citizen, and a disciple of the progressive school of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, I cannot keep silent. At the same time, these masked agitators try to drag the Yoruba identity into the mud of tribal bigotry and reckless political opportunism.<\/strong>
\nPoint by point, let me now respond to their disturbing and dangerous narrative.<\/p>\n

1. The Igbo Presence in Lagos Is Lawful, Not Provocative
\nTo suggest that Ndigbo are provoking anyone by living, working, or acquiring property in Lagos is contrary to the Nigerian Constitution. Lagos is not a tribal empire but a federated state within the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Every Nigerian has a constitutional right to live, own property, and vote in any part of the country.
\nThe suggestion that Igbos are “excessive, disrespectful and provocative” for exercising this right is not only false, it is evil. This same thinking once led to pogroms, and eventually, civil war. Do we want to return to that dark path?<\/p>\n

2. Property Ownership Is Not a Declaration of War
\nThe alarmist claim that the Igbos are buying up land in \u201cclusters\u201d to dominate Lagos politically is mischievous and misleading. Are we now criminalising commerce and development? Is it only when Yoruba buy land that it is called investment, but when Igbos do, it becomes an ethnic threat?
\nLet us be honest: Lagos thrives today because of the inclusive spirit that allows diverse people \u2014 Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Ijaw, Efik, foreigners \u2014 to bring their best to this city. Attacking people for being industrious and prosperous is nothing but the politics of envy, not indigenous interest.<\/p>\n

3. \u201cCo-ownership\u201d Is a Constitutional Reality, Not a Cultural Threat
\nThe Constitution does not recognise \u201cancestral ownership\u201d of federated states. The law acknowledges citizenship, residency, and legality, not tribal roots. When Igbos \u2014 or anyone \u2014 say \u201cLagos belongs to all, ” they affirm constitutional truth, not rewriting history.
\nNo matter how loud YEPC shouts, they cannot relinquish Section 43 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to own immovable property anywhere in the country.<\/p>\n

4. The Land Tenure Proposal Is Xenophobic and Illegal
\nTo propose that the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for non-Yorubas be reduced from 100 years to 25 is not only illegal but ethnic apartheid disguised as policy. It is a direct attack on the Nigerian Constitution and cannot stand in any competent court of law.
\nWhat will happen if Anambra or Enugu enacts the same policy against Yoruba living there? What happens to Yoruba traders thriving in Sabon Gari, Aba, Onitsha, or even Accra and Johannesburg? Must they now be punished for the crimes of land ownership?
\nThis policy proposal reeks of the same mindset that once inspired Rwanda\u2019s genocide.<\/p>\n

5. Lagos Certificate of Origin Cannot Be Ethnically Weaponised
\nThe idea of revoking Lagos Certificates of Origin unless \u201clineage\u201d is traced is a laughable descent into ethnic nativism. It violates every tenet of modern governance, federalism, and democratic equality.
\nSuppose Lagos wants to create a new tribal passport. In that case, a new constitution must also be made because it guarantees every Nigerian full citizenship rights wherever they live.
\nThis proposal is not only unworkable but also dangerous. It sets Lagos on fire under the false guise of heritage protection.<\/p>\n

6. “Legal and Cultural Safeguards” Are Not Justifications for Prejudice
\nUsing language like \u201cguests claiming ownership of their host\u2019s house\u201d to describe fellow Nigerians is insulting, dangerous, and unpatriotic. The Igbo are not guests in Lagos. They are stakeholders \u2014 builders, contributors, citizens.
\nNdigbo are Nigerian citizens residing in Lagos who have the right to vote and be voted for. They pay taxes, run businesses, and contribute to the State’s IGR. What else defines citizenship if not contribution?<\/p>\n

7. The Call to Action Is a Call to Tyranny
\nYEPC says Lagos must not become a “no-man\u2019s land.” Let me respond clearly: Lagos is every man\u2019s land, as far as the Nigerian Constitution is concerned.
\nThe attempt to romanticise tribal dominance with words like \u201cancestral identity\u201d and \u201ccultural preservation\u201d is simply the old wine of ethnic supremacy in a new bottle.<\/p>\n

8. On History and Heritage: Stop the Weaponisation of Culture
\nHistory should enlighten, not inflame. Lagos was built by the collective sweat of many. Lagos has always been cosmopolitan, from the Benin kingdom\u2019s influence to the Awori and Ijebu settlers, the Brazilian returnees, and the colonial powers.
\nThe Yoruba are foundational to Lagos, but not exclusive owners of its future. Any group that claims otherwise seeks to build walls in place of bridges.<\/p>\n

9. The Comparison with the East and the North Is Hypocritical
\nIt is hypocritical to say, \u201cIn the East or North, others can\u2019t own land,\u201d while crying foul when people lawfully own property in Lagos. That is the same feudal mentality that has hindered progress elsewhere.
\nLagos must lead by example, not regress into ethnic tribalism. We must not copy what is backwards elsewhere; we must be the model of modern civility and legal fairness.<\/p>\n

10. The Yoruba Elders Progressive Council is neither Progressive Nor Elders
\nReal Yoruba elders, the Omoluabi, are defined by wisdom, justice, and honour\u2014not anonymous hate speech or cowardly propaganda.
\nThe historical records of the labour of heroes past in Lagos speak against the position of this Elder of hate.<\/p>\n

Herbert Macaulay (1864\u20131946) \u2013 Though not a formal governor, he was a nationalist and key indigenous political actor in Lagos. A Democrat who founded the NNDP (Nigeria’s first political party) in 1923. Dr. J.C. Vaughan, Dr. Kofo Abayomi, and Sir Adeyemo Alakija were all key members of the Lagos elite who influenced policy through the Lagos Town Council. There is no record of their threat to other tribes’ residences in Lagos.
\nUnder Regional Era \u2013 Western Region (1954\u20131967)
\nLagos was the capital of Nigeria, but still part of the Western Region until it became a separate federal territory.
\nObafemi Awolowo (Premier of the Western Region, 1954\u20131959) \u2014 Though based in Ibadan, he had indirect administrative influence over Lagos.
\nBode Thomas, Samuel Akintola, and others from the Action Group shaped policies affecting Lagos in this era. Federal Territory of Lagos & Military Era (1967\u20131979)
\nWith the creation of Lagos State in 1967 under General Gowon, the state began to have Military Governors:
\n1. Brig. Gen. Mobolaji Johnson (1967\u20131975)
\nFirst Military Governor of Lagos State
\nHighly respected, helped develop early infrastructure.
\nIndigenous Lagosian, widely regarded as fair and progressive.
\n2. Commodore Michael Adekunle Lawal (1975\u20131977)
\nContinued the administrative structure post-Gowon.
\nSomeone must tell the Jokers that Ndigbo were among the men who built modern Lagos.
\n1. Commodore Ndubuisi Kanu (1977\u20131978)
\nAn Igbo man governed Lagos during Obasanjo’s military government.
\n2. Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (1978\u20131979)
\nAnother Igbo handed over power to the civilian administration in 1979.
\nCivilian Era Begins \u2013 Lateef Jakande (1979\u20131983)
\nAlhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande
\nFirst Executive Governor of Lagos State (1979\u20131983) under the UPN.
\nHe was an Awolowo disciple who implemented populist policies without discrimination in education, health, housing, and transport. Widely regarded as the most impactful governor in Lagos’ history, he stood for equity and fairness, not ethnic exclusion.
\nThe Labour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu began the exploits of the 4th Republic in Lagos State, a citizen allegedly with ancestral roots originally from Iragbiji in Osun State. He was followed by Babatunde Raji Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, who did their best and left the rest to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, under whom ethnic sanderling seems to be a political strategy of the political elites.
\nIs Mr Governor’s body language suggestive of the support this uncanny Elders are offering? Mr Sanwo-Olu must state that he must dissociate himself and his administration from a bunch of cowards who published such a document without a signature. A proof of guilt. If you are bold enough to peddle hate, be bold enough to put your name to it.
\nConclusion: We Must Not Let Tribal Madness Become State Policy
\nLet me be clear: the Lagos State Government must distance itself from this dangerous document. It must not allow tribal entrepreneurs to drag our state into the pit of ethnic cleansing through policy.
\nThis is not a time for silence. All true Yoruba sons and daughters \u2014 the Omoluabi \u2014 must rise and publicly disown this tribal gang.
\nLet me end with the words of our sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo: \u201cNigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression.\u201d Yet, he spent his life building unity across that geography. He never advocated exclusion or hatred. Those hijacking his progressive legacy to propagate tribal hate are retrogressive opportunists.
\nI call on the media, civil society, the Lagos State House of Assembly, and every peace-loving Nigerian to reject this tribal nonsense.
\nIf we fail to act now, we may soon wake up in a city where fire rages and nobody knows who lit the match.<\/p>\n

Signed:
\nDr Bolaji O. Akinyemi
\nYoruba Elder, Democrat, and\u00a0 former Minister of foreign affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I read with deep concern the unsigned and shameful document issued in the name of \u201cYoruba Elders Progressive Council (YEPC)\u201d titled \u201cOur Land, Our Identity: Lagos State Government Must Act Before We’re Made Strangers at Home.\u201d It is unfortunate that in 2025, in a democratic Nigeria where the Constitution reigns supreme, some cowards cloaked in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":14216,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[6269],"class_list":["post-31777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","tag-dr-bolaji-o-akinyemi"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/LAGOS.jpg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4oswh-8gx","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31777"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31777\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31780,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31777\/revisions\/31780"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/newsroom247.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}