Barely six months after the demolition of about 5,000 houses and the displacement of 500,000 people at the Ilaje Otumara area of Lagos State by suspected land grabbers in conjunction with some state officials, the owners of the property yesterday staged a peaceful protest in front of the Lagos State House of Assembly Complex.
The group, under the aegis of Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide, arrived in the early hours of the morning, carrying placards with various inscriptions: “Save Oworo People From Oba Babatunde Saliu,” “Ilaje Road Stands For Unity. Don’t Change Identity, “Babajide Sanwo-Olu should prevent further illegal demolition of Ilaje Communities in Lagos,” and “If it is truly democracy, then every right must be respected.”
Speaking on the development, the president-general of Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide, Prince Iwamitigha Rapheal Irowainu, said about 5,000 houses with an estimated population of 500,000 were demolished and displaced, respectively.
He noted that the houses were demolished within 7 days of notice without any court order.
Irowainu called on the Governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, to intervene as the residents of Ilaje communities, alongside other people from other tribes in the state, have been dehumanised.
He stated further that, for instance, a street called Ilaje Road in the Bariga area of Lagos has been renamed King Sunny Ade Road for no proper reason, adding that Sunny Ade left Bariga over 17 years ago without making any meaningful contribution.
According to him, some people displaced by the demolition sleep in Churches, Mosques, and Schools.
The president general reiterated that the Ilaje people had since migrated to the said land at Oyingbo area of Ebute-Metta, after which it was refilled and rebuilt by the Ilajes alongside other tribal groups.
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