Following the reported plans by the Lagos State government to pass laws that will revoke lands and properties in the state, Onuigbo Ndigbo Gburugburu, the Igbo traditional spokesperson, Chief Engr Ejike Iwu has cautioned the government to be careful not to incite tension among ethnic nationalities resident in the commercial capital of Nigeria.
In a statement, Chief Iwu said that any move targeted at revoking lands/properties already acquired or making it difficult if not impossible to acquire lands by other ethnic as well as foreign nationals, will create unnecessary and retrogressive tensions in the state and nation at large.
He said the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led state government should not just be looking at Ndigbo as the indirect target of such a law as there are many nationalities as well as multinational corporations that bought and own lands and landed properties in Lagos.
“We have the Lebanese and other foreign nationals who bought and own lands and landed properties in the state. There are corporations like MTN, Glo, Dangote Group among others that had acquired lands in Lagos for their investments and businesses for years”, he said.
Onuigbo Ndigbo Gburugburu warned that such a law if passed may trigger anti-development reactions from others states, adding that Nigerians also have landed properties in other countries.
He called on president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to wade into the matter in order to forestall anything that will generate further tensions in a highly divided nation.
The Igbo traditional spokesperson advised that what the new administration in the country should endeavour to do is to calm frayed nerves and ensure there is healing if bruised hearts among Nigerians and not an anti-people policy.
Continuing, he urged the traditional and religious leaders of the South West especially the Obas, to intervene and call their subjects to order before it gets out of hand.
Chief Iwu further called on Ndigbo in diaspora to think of spreading their investments from wherever they reside within and outside the country, to their homeland.
It will be recalled that during the inauguration of the 10 Lagos State Assembly last Tuesday, Hon Mudashiru Obasa who emerged as Speaker for the third time said: “There would be laws…in the areas of economy and commerce, property and titles, and we will reverse all that is reversible to protect the interest of the indigenes.”
“Lagos is a Yoruba land as against the assertions of some people that it is a no man’s land.
“Therefore, part of our legislative agenda is to ensure the translation of laws passed by this House to the Yoruba language,” he added.
According to the speaker, the new land and property laws only favour indigenes.
He said, “We also aim at achieving our collective goals of creating a robust legislative framework that protects the interest of our people. Going forward in this wise, we are going to employ all legislative instruments for the support of the indigenes of Lagos”.
