Press Releases

Fashola Appeals To Eminent Citizens To Assist In Effecting Attitudinal Changes

Mar 7, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Friday appealed to eminent Lagosians to use the moral authority that they have successfully used in tackling the issue of expropriated lands and property of Lagos in other key areas like street trading, begging, illegal sand digging, driving against the traffic and other social vices.

Governor Fashola spoke when he received the team of eminent citizens traditional rulers of Lagos led by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu who gave a report of what transpired during the last meeting of the team with President Umaru Musa Yar¢adua in Abuja .

The Governor said as respected opinion leaders, the members of the team should assist the state government in effecting attitudinal changes from members of their communities, faithful and patrons and the people on their ways of life.

He thanked the group members for successfully engaging the President to commit himself to a peaceful resolution of the dispute over the landed properties of Lagos, adding that already he has been engaged in discussion with the Federal Attorney General on the issues involved.

He revealed that the President has also promised to convene a meeting with the Lagos State Governor immediately the committee set up by both the Federal Government and Lagos on the issue of the disputed properties turn in their reports.

While briefing the gathering on what transpired at Abuja , elder statesman and former Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Femi Okunnu (SAN) said the team was assured after the parley by President Umaru Musa Yar¢adua that he would accelerate the settlement process and allow the rule of law to prevail.

While tracing the genesis of how Lagos came into being and the issue of expropriated land came about, Alhaji Okunnu said before Lagos was created on 27 May 1967, it remained a Federal territory.

Alhaji Okunnu explained that all lands in Ikoyi till the canal by virtue of the 1960 Lands Ordinance belonged to Lagos except buildings being used for official purposes by the Federal Government.

He added that while he was serving as Commissioner for Works and Housing there was no disputes about properties in Lagos as even the Head of State then, General Yakubu Gowon accepted that all lands especially those in Victoria Island were properties of Lagos State .

He added that at that point in time, some plots of land were given on free volition by the State to Federal Government citing the land on which the Lagos International Trade Fair was built as one of such given without any compensation paid to the land owners.

He traced the genesis of expropriation of Lagos lands to the era of General Ibrahim Babangida when several lands forcibly taken over could not be retrieved by Governors who military appointees are leading to the ejection of several state government officials from official quarters.

The former Commissioner also revealed under the law, the Federal Government has no land as all such lands have by virtue of the Land Use Act been vested in State Governors, adding that a total of 147 quarters of the State have been expropriated by the Federal Government.

In his own remarks, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1 expressed the belief that President Umaru Musa Yar¢adua is a God fearing leader who will accede to the request of the team from Lagos and return all Lagos landed properties.

Also contributing, former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended the team for the efforts it has made in getting an amicable settlement to the issue.

He asked the team of eminent Lagosians to look inwards as there are still some unpatriotic Lagosians who are bent on frustrating efforts of the present government in getting what rightly belonged to Lagos which she had been denied for so long.

He said after the meeting of the eminent persons, these same set of people have gone back to President to present him with another account which does not tally with the reality, but to serve their selfish ends.

He pledged the unflinching support of the people of Lagos to Governor Fashola in his quest to reclaim what rightly belonged to her.

Asiwaju Tinubu informed the Governor that constituency delimitation is currently going on and that the Governor should take all proactive steps to ensure that the State gets the right deal, pledging to provide support where desired.

In rounding off the meeting, State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) thanked the Lagos elders for the selfless manner they have resolved to tackle issues affecting their state of origin, pledging never to compromise the interest of Lagos at any time.

Among the eminent Lagosians that attended the gathering were first civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and his wife, Abimbola, First Military Governor of Lagos, Rtd Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson, former Central Bank Governor, Mr. Ola Vincent, Former First Lady of Lagos State, Chief Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, former Attorney General, Mrs Wonu Folami, the Chief Imam of Lagos, Alhaji Garuba Akinola and several first class traditional rulers and chiefs in the state.