When Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola was sworn in as the Governor of Lagos State, to take over from his mentor, I was one of those who vouched for him, urging my friends in our small but very closed forum of lawyers who are pastors to monitor and watch the actions of Lawyers in Power.
I boasted that here comes the first SAN, as a Governor, who will show Nigerians that lawyers have the key to the challenges of this blessed nation, and that Lagos will soon experience a turn around for good. Today, we all agree that he has done well and still doing well except for one terrible and dangerous tendency his government has displayed too frequently.
Around December 2009,the LASG, provided buses and was paying a sum ranging from N8,000 toN15,000 to anyone who wanted to leave Lagos. What was baffling was that the evacuation targeted people from the South- South and South East of Nigeria, especially the Igbos.
Any man who wants people to leave “their Lagos” so shabbily is wickedly inconsiderate because some of these citizens being urged to depart or relocate from Lagos may have come here when some of them in power today were toddlers. Some of these persons so believed in Lagos, that they gave their children Yoruba names like myself.
They only discovered late in life, like I now do, that many of these men who are in power have refused to outgrow their dislike for Igbos! To me, that action signaled the possibility of BRF waking up any morning to ask a whole group, and ethnic group to leave Lagos. Igbos could be made to leave Lagos one day, if nothing is done now.
I quickly took this thought to my forum of Pastor Lawyers, and after a good argument, they disagreed with me, but we all agreed to watch BRF closely to observe anything that will prove my thoughts or to confirm my fears for the Igbo people in Lagos. After BRF’s re-election in 2011, we all agreed that the man will become bolder, more blunt, daring, and even wicked in his second term. This was purely based on his body language in everything he did, after he was sworn in for the second term.
Soon after, LASG had a serious brush with the Igbo traders in Alaba International Market, Ojo. He threatened to close their market, and we noted it.
Then he hit the Okada riders very hard, and as that was settling down, he hit the Ladipo Igbo traders early this year, and closed the market indefinitely! It took the intervention of Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to reach BRF’s milk of mercy and he reopened Ladipo Market, but not without a warning! I, had to, and without any apologies, come to the painful conclusion that it is either that someone very high up in the LASG does not like Ndigbo, or it is BRF himself. What angered me more was that Owelle had to beg him for Ndigbo.
This Igbo people I complained, when will they wake up to know and accept that no one likes them in this arrangement called Nigeria, and comport themselves properly at all times and in all they do?
To confirm that I was correct, on the July 26 morning, Onitsha people at the bridge head area woke up to the deportation of about 70 Igbos by LASG to Anambra State! What BRF has told Ndigbo by this action include: That Lagos State under his administration will not tolerate Igbo failed citizens in the state; Lagos will allow only those who contribute immensely to the Internally Generated Revenue of the State, and if any becomes unable to pay tax for any reason, LASG will send him back to Igboland.
Don’t ever think you can do anything about how LASG, treats Ndigbo,whether their treatment of Igbos is constitutional or not, no one can do anything about it. Since Igbo Governors may only come to beg him for mercy, he might as well just send their people back to them, good riddance of bad rubbish! Finally, LASG can and will disregard the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when it concerns Ndigbo, because they are ACN!
The deportation of Nigerians from Nigeria was the worst assault on the pride of Igbo people in Lagos; it was deliberately calculated to see what the Igbo people would do, and it is in very bad taste to me.
The meaning was that a governor who thinks and goes ahead to approve the transportation and relocation of these Nigerian citizens from his state, has succeeded in flouting and abusing the constitutional rights of these citizens to a place of domicile, to stay and earn their living in any part of Nigeria.
If the Federal Government does not speak and do something about this, there will be cause for any Igbo man to worry about this contraption called Nigeria that we have all so believed in. LASG must be made to account for these persons, cater and provide for them, because it was in Lagos that they lost focus and their destiny ruined.
Lagos Area Boys run wild, extorting money from bus drivers, causing nuisance with impunity ostensibly encouraged by LASG. I just wonder when this insult of Ndigbo will end.The growing trend of disrespecting the Igbo people in Lagos, and wherever in Nigeria must stop.
If nothing is done about this by the FG, many will have to brace up for a fight for their constitutional right, or pack away from Lagos State. And this is because my Igbo people say that if your fowl comes out in the morning from its cage and starts pursuing you, it is wise that you run for your dear life, because it may have developed sharp teeth overnight!
Mr. CLEMENT UDEGBE, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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The igbos should stop all these complains,they are not the only tribe that BRF have sent their destitus back to their states,so why are the igbos crying as if they are the only people BRF has sent home. The igbos are just been too sentimental about these,we all how this destitus constites nusance in evey state of the country.
ReplyDeleteyeah...this man should keep shot.Lagos is a city that needs to develop beyound it present state...therefore nuisance should be shown there way back to there state irrespective of tribe...igbos should not make it look as if they are the only one affected...disabled Hausa beggers were also sent back to the north
DeleteThat is why we are saying it is constitutionally wrong for BRF to engage in such act without collaborating with authorities in various states affected to properly rehabilitate those destitutes. Are they not human beings like u? Is because they are less privileged that will justified them being dumped on the street at onitsha and other places in Nigeria? Stop supporting evil because it can befall u someday!
DeleteMr Clement Igbos don't like insult!!! Everything is insult to an igbo man. Pride will not kill una. Igbos do not fit into structures..Structures and systems are insult to them. Tell them the rules in a market they will be break it. When govt decides to lock up d place then d govt must be against d igbos. How can u say that each time d govt tries to correct something and an igbo man is involved it is wickedness? If things are done anyhow in every state and BRF says Lagos must be different so be it. Hausas and yorubas have been deported u didn't hear their governors shouting and crying foul. I know apu makes pple strong so u igbos have muscles for fight that's why the whole country must collapse bcos for the 1st time BRF sent Igbo miscreants home. Yoruba pple have an adage that says, if ur sojourn in d foreign land is not successful then home will be better. The reasons why the eastern governors are crying is bcos they have not prepared for their citizens to cater for them so Lagos should keep helping them. Oh o. Now u know how it is.. When pple leave their homes and come into Lagos everyday in their hundreds without no hope of a place to sleep or work to do and without informing Lagos state govt of their coming... They keep increasing the pressure of the state. Its not fair on Lagos. Pple have built houses on slumps, lagoons, dung hill and anywhere u can think of all bcos they just want to live in lagos. At the end they don't jhave d better life they so seek.. D attendant result of that is that they become so sick dat d health centres can't even cope with their in flux. I think when Nigerians complain like this, its bcos of lack of foresight. Any state or people that don't plan for the future will fail. There's what they call cottage business. Pple don't have to leave the rural areas and come to Lagos. They can start a biz at home. Transport to the urban areas and make a good living instead of coming to Lagos to beg. The igbos say they don't like them. Do u know how many fake things we have in Nigeria? How can an igbo man be seeling fake drugs for children and killing them all bcos of money! The ones selling spare parts generators are no different.. U must buy upto ten times b4 u get d good one... U igbos should go and build the east and stop whinning. But know ds that no one is against u.
DeleteIs obvious that this a tribalistic country we live on,
ReplyDeleteYou ever heard the word REHABILITATION?
ReplyDeleteThe Igbos should go to their land and develop it like lagos, if not better than Lagos. The Igbos should be reasonable enough to stop developing foreign land and develop their own land.
ReplyDeleteThink like a human, and be reasonable... Lagos got developed nt bcos of the tribe bt the natural resources found there that made the whites interested.... So please think b4 u let something off ur mouth
DeleteAnonymous 12:40pm you are very useless and retarded in thinking. Is there any provision in our constitution where a governor has right to deport any person? BRF is not alone in what he is doing based on comments we have read so far. Has he ever said or done anything about the destitutes called areaa boys? What right do KAI have to arrest and detain anyone? Igbo leaders should start by asking about those who died in detention. Why will they always lock up markets for no just cause? I think there is a need to fight this war once and for all. Lawyer thank you for this write up but never advise anyone to leave Lagos because it was built by FG and belongs to all of us.
ReplyDeleteCry fowl!! Or cry me a lagoon not river this time around!! Lagoon okay.
DeleteAt anonymous 244pm.lagos doesn't belong to us all just like whatever state u came from doesn't belong to us all but d indegineous ppl of d state.this is our problem with u guys,u come into lagos and do and undo thinking u can lord over d indegineous ppl of the state.The lawyer made some valid points and some were baseless.a perfect example of his baseless point is on d okada issue.The banning of okada in lagos is a great development as most of d riders have become a menace to the ppl of lagos.The banning of okada affects all tribes including d igbos,d yorubas and hausas as well.You are only attaching sentiments by implying that it only affects d igbos.One need to go to gbogbi hospital to see the horrors of okada perpetrated accident.Some lament that it is a travesty against d poor and ignore d fact that most ppl in d gbogbi wards are predominantly poor people.We all remember lagos in d early eighties and early 90's b4 d incursion of okada.It was a beautiful site to behold,now it is filled with dark diesel fumes emanating from okada exhaust and some few cars.We all know okada riders do put engine oil in their gas tanks to make the petrol last longer.Alot of ppl are just dying young in naija without just cause but the illiterate idea that it must be diabolical.Some of this cases are cancer related and our ppl don't realize it.when u see buildings with arches stains etc,don't just think it is only d building,d inside of u looks just like that from inhaling all those smokes.Everyone wants d quick money without learning a trade.They all opted for d quick scheme which is okada business.You can hardly find a gateman now as all of them r all riding okada for d quick bulks.Even going to school is preparing one for a career which is in essence a form of trade.Lets remoce all d sentiments and acknowledge d positives in it.while I felt the lagos state government went about it d wrong way in deporting a Nigerian inrespective of his tribe without due diligence,d practise itself has an underlying reason behind it.Everyone comes from d village to lagos for that golden goose,it isn't for everybody,lagos is too saturated and a lot of d chadians shud be sent back to their country as well.The area boys operating in lagos should be d #1 priority now as well,they need to be eradicated by any means necessary
DeleteIf you like cry from now till infinity ,BRF has done it and there is no going back . Going forward he will deport more useless non Lagosian than are only liabilities to lagos . Lagos must move like a mega city and plenty of sacrifices must be paid including human sacrifices . So if you are not a Lagosian and you are a liability , l pity you. BRF, more of that
DeleteRubbish
ReplyDeleteCx
ReplyDeleteI dey laff.......
ReplyDeleteIts a shame on the igbos that they are being dumped/deported as they claim..
All they should do is pack their belongings and Go HOME!!!!!!!!
*i bet no one would teach them b4 they run back to lagos*......
Rubbish write ups
My CLEMENT, we have READ & HEARD of this STORY, over & over again. My QUESTION is "What is the way out of this MESS?"
ReplyDeleteAs for ".... run, bcos U dont know if Ur FOWL developed TEETH over NITE" the IGBOS are GOING NOWHERE! Besides, Hausa, Yoruba, Igala, Ijaw, Byrom, Ngas, Efik, Kataf, Igbira, e.t.c wanted the IGBOs in NIGERIA, hence the SLOGAN "ONE NIGERIA" in 1970. So that "ONE NIGERIA" we must be. IGBOs are in AKURE, ABEOKUTA, OSHOGBO, ADO-EKITI & many other YORUBA Cities, Towns, even VILLAGES & LAGOS being the FEDERAL CAPITAL of NIGERIA then, WELCOMED all TRIBES, including the IGBOs.
So Mr CLEMENT & many other COMMENTATORS shld know that "AJEOKUTA MAMU OMI", "IYANMIRI", "NWAONYI IGBO" are in "ONE NIGERIA" therefore are at HOME in LAGOS STATE!
My CLEMENT, we have READ & HEARD of this STORY, over & over again. My QUESTION is "What is the way out of this MESS?"
ReplyDeleteAs for ".... run, bcos U dont know if Ur FOWL developed TEETH over NITE" the IGBOS are going NOWHERE! Besides, Hausa, Yoruba, Igala, Ijaw, Byrom, Ngas, Efik, Kataf, Igbira, e.t.c wanted the IGBOs in NIGERIA, hence the SLOGAN "ONE NIGERIA" in 1970. So that "ONE NIGERIA" we must be. IGBOs are in AKURE, ABEOKUTA, OSHOGBO, ADO-EKITI & many other YORUBA Cities, Towns, even VILLAGES & LAGOS being the FEDERAL CAPITAL of NIGERIA then, WELCOMED all TRIBES, including the IGBOs.
So Mr CLEMENT & many other COMMENTATORS shld know that "AJEOKUTA MAMU OMI", "IYANMIRI", "NWAONYI IGBO" are in "ONE NIGERIA" therefore are at HOME in LAGOS STATE!
I belive very many of you that is suporting unlawfull deportation are those that ve never travle 4 a long time in another Mans Land, if BRF wan to do it right he should contact the Govt of those state. Eko onibaje oooo
ReplyDeleteFashola shld try n corect this babaric act b4 it snowbal to sth else..no be im mate de rehabilitate ppl.? Woe to those dat want to divide this country overnite....
ReplyDeleteSo much sentiments are be attached to issues in this country. Igbos should also hld their leaders responsible for their plight.just as Nigerians are being treated shabbly in other developed countries. If every state governement had put in the bearest amenities in their states, their people won't have reasons leaving to other places and live in sqaulor. Just the way igbos are living in high brow areas in Lagos, most of the shanties in Lagos are today inhabited by them and other tribes. We should all collectively hold our leaders resposible/accountable. UK would not insult us by demanding £3,000 bond if my brothers like Ibori had used the wealth of our land to develop the state than stacing it away in other countries where its now being turned into state free money. The problem is not Fashola but the appointed leaders(not elected)they milk the treasuries dry for selfish interest and turned the unborn generations into beggers. Its time to make public office holders accuntable by force in the country. Only in Nigeria will you use N167Billion to construct 134Km road and go free without questions. One km of road not cost more than N1billion. My people wake up.
ReplyDeleteOMO OODUA!, "E mase dawon lohun':
ReplyDeletePlease let every Governor develop their state. Allow FASHOLA to rehabilitates Lagos.Forget issue of one Nigeria, Yoruba's wanted to move forward and develop if others are waiting in slums, militants, and bokoism.
,,MUST YOU STAY IN LAGOS?????
Fashola should be specific ,if is tax he want from igbos then we want to know.
ReplyDeleteLagos is a state not a sitting room,his unscrupulous act is unconstitutional ,is Anambra state head bridge their rightful destination?
I believe some are from Ebonyi State etc.
Infact his action is as a result of animosity within which will soon be exposed to all.
What about the area boys all around town ,fashola should focus on establishing industries ,and to keep the nation united and not tearing his good works in pieces.
Fashola beware of evil advisers who wants to ruin your administration!
Now I know y d hausa are killing more of d igbos. Can u see urself? runing an insult on a fellow man. Most Igbos are too difficult to live with. Talk of paying rents, when it comes to joint business & so on. Anyway Fashola has done what he thinks is right for Lagos State. U can head to court. @least u don't bury ur deads here, & some of d relocated people av died @ home as wished by ur custom. Alaba & Ladipo were home of pirates, seller of fake products etc. I can't rent out my properties to igbos bcos dy av taught me bad lessons. I am not saying dt all igbos are bad but d gud ones are very few. So u are one of d bad one bcos d right-up was not insultive. The lawyer dt wrote is very intelligent to av applied gud brain but u av shown one of d stupidity of an igbo man
ReplyDeleteI think President Goodluck's intervention is needed here to avoid it turning into something else,since he is the leader, or will he sit down ,and look @ his own brothers suffer injustice.
ReplyDeleteThis is a big blow/challenge to Ndi-igbos, may God help us we are in a mess in the North,and now the South have raised their urgly heads up against us!
Did u have any property to talk of renting to igbo ,oga landlord travel and see!
ReplyDeleteWhy can'nt he find out their exact state of origin ,then send them there instead of adding more fruastration to the ones he had already caused.
If the whole state Govr.embark in such an act where will it take Nigeria to -so pray for peace ,and unity and not supporting evil,and wickedness less it come back to you no matter your position in life it do backfire!!!
Like everything Fashola has done during this "dictatorial" second term, this could have Bern handled much better. Okada, ladipo market, alaba markrt and now this?
ReplyDeleteIgbos should keep quiet and look @ the +ve side of BRF action. Every action taken in nigeria is attached a tribal connotation even thou itz 4 our good. I don't c any reason my Igbo brodas 2 shud tribalism diz laudable action. The only way nigeria will become a better place is when we all reason as one and stop diz mumu tribal or religiouz thotz.
ReplyDeleteFashola should be ware less the same lagoshans push him out,as he is pushing the igbos on the wall.
ReplyDeleteHe should learn from what happened to a whole Egyptian President Mursi
Igbo kwenu iya we must match forward no wahala!!!
Professional ethnic agitators...that's what someone called the igbos. U like making mountain out of a mole hill. What Fashola did is called cleansing and trying to reduce the burden of Lagos. Lagos is overpopulated. The FG that u are calling on to call BRF to order can't justify their allocation to Lagos. FG was even bold to say Kano has more people than Lagos therefore they get more allocation than Lag. Isn't that injustice? If u don't have a job or biz in Lagos u shouldn't b in Lagos. Go back to ur village at least there will be food and shelter there. The jobless in lagos are the one endangering d lives of its residents. An idle mind is d workshop of d devil. What BRF did, he did not only to Igbos but other tribes including yorubas. So why are u making it look like its a war against d igbos. U said he should inform d other governors? Were the other governor informed b4 their pple left their state to come to Lagos? The other governors shuld av asked their citizens if they have a place to stay in lagos or a job to do.What BRF did has been carried out in Newyork and Hawaii b4. Its not new! Lagos must progress. Let all other states governors develop their states so the burden on lagos can reduce. The pple who say Lagos is 4 everyone or no man's land are very funny. Go and say that to d Oba of lagos or to the Awori pple. A lot of pple came to lagos for green pastures and over time they are trying to claim it. When u die, will u be buried in Lagos? There are many rich Igbos in lagos. How many rich yoruba or hausa man can u find in d east? I dare say none bcos igbos are not accomodating at all bcos of their marginalization complex. Igbos should stop agitating d country wit their inferiority complex. U are evrywhere in Nigeria, how many pple from other tribes can peacefully dwell in d east? What u can't give u always want to demand from others.pls go back home and develop your states. Whatever development is in Lagos can be established elsewhere except for the beaches! Lol. Abeg my igbo brothers and sisters no one is against u in yoruba land but the law of the state may be against those who fail to comply. If u don't want your brothers deported,engage them in a biz and accomodate them as well. If there is any agbero that is without accomodation, if found he may be deported. But if the agbero has a place to stay, there's no justification to deport such bcos he can claim he is unemployed. Afterall, there are many prostitutes from the east and south-south in lag and bcos they have a place to stay no one is going to deport them. Lawyer Clement should get busy and stop inciting pple. The Igbo governors should develop their states and stop amassing wealth for presidential election at d expense of their pple.if lagos were to be in d east, we know u will not allow other tribes in. Hausa pple are accomodating. They will make food and ask u to join them. They only bcome unreasonable when their religion is at play. A yoruba man will accomodate anyone too but may not trust u. Igbos will not give u anything. They are always hostile to strangers in their land. Stop complaining unjustly...BRF is not against u.
ReplyDeleteMr Clement Udegbe, you have to argue sensibly and give correct facts. Stop seeking cheap fame.
ReplyDeleteLet's forget about who was treated badly & ask ourselves some very important questions. Does it look responsible for for full citizens of the same Nation to be moved unprepared to another zone or state,left without custody at about 3am in a very dangerous place as they did? There are places like police stations,welfare units etc.where they could have been kept until their pple come in search of them. When has it become a crime for someone to be poor or mentally I'll in Nigeria such that they will be kept in such restricted custody as the prison yard. I don:t want to know where the victims are from but we must say no,if this is the way it was done.
ReplyDeleteWILL THINGS EVER GET BETTER FOR nigeria?
ReplyDeleteNEVER!!!!....
Here is a solution to problems of igbos. Send non igbos away from ur states and u too should leave west and the north. Then peace will rein- there will be nobody to deport u again and u can save the huge energy u cry with. The african jews(delusion of grandiose/loss of identity) should do us this favour and let see who is at the receiving end. Igbo kue
ReplyDeleteI used to like Igbos but I am growing tired of their victim mentality to be honest. Why weren't they crying when Fashola relocated 3000 aboki beggers back to the North? If anything they were celebrating.But now because a measly few Okoros that were sleeping under a bridge were sent back to their state to be a nuisance there, Igbos want to cry and complain? Is Lagos your fathers land? Why not go back home and develop your own states instead of trying to force yourself onto people? It's not by force!
ReplyDeleteNon Lagosians from Igboland jump on the bus to Lagos every single day in the hundreds with absolutely no plan of what they're going to do when they get there. It's disgraceful and has led to gross over population. Igbos need to find a way to stop playing the blame game all the time. No one cares anymore.
ReplyDeleteIgbos please go back and develop your states. stop becoming a pest in another man's land. some of you dont have a house in your home, cant sleep in ur home but u are always bragging in another persons land. Is this not a wake up call for you to go and start something in ur states and develop them
ReplyDelete