Amidst rejection of their continued administration of Lagos State, non-indigenes in government unveils ‘Lagos Island Model City Plan’

*It is to restore old ancient city glory, unlock economic prosperity, says Ogun State-born Gov Sanwo-Olu

*It is to divert attention from their being rejected by Lagos people – Indigenous sources

By OUR REPORTER, South West

The Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu-led government of Lagos State has finally unfolded its plans rumoured long ago to allegedly further the marginalisation and disenfranchisement of indigenes by using political power to displace the rightful owners of the state and replace them with fellow non-indigenes, thus turning the constitutionally recognised indigenes to Red Indies in their own land.

This was as the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed during the stakeholders meeting on what he called “Lagos Island Model City Plan”, held at the Muson Centre, Lagos, on Thursday March 7, 2024.

The DEFENDER reports that the non-indigenous Nigerians from no more than other South West states have been paved the unlawful way leaving their own indigenous states and continuing to usurp the constitutional rights and opportunities of Lagos State indigenes since return of democracy on May 29, 1999, under the yet-to-be-substantiated claim of not seeing Lagos State indigenes showing interest in leading their state.

With the emergence of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation late last year, which fourth statement was circulated across the Nigerian and International Press on Tuesday 5th March, 2024, the non-indigenous political leaders occupying the state government have been under pressure knowing that, by implication, the owners of the land are here and very serious about taking back their state come 2027.

To divert attention from that, the government, which has neglected the heart of the state, Lagos Island, letting it devolved into the hands of non-state actors mainly thugs and cultists under the disguise of agbero or members National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for 25 years, has suddenly risen to present a development plan it tags, “Lagos Island Model City Plan”.

Defending the plan at MUSON Centre on Thursday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development said, when operational, it will restore the glory of Lagos Island and unlock economic prosperity.

Olumide explained that the administration of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the preparation of an inclusive Lagos Island Model City Plan to harness the special characteristics of Lagos Island, plan for its sustainable future growth and socio-economic development while addressing the aspirations of the citizens.

According to him, the plan, which was conceived to correct the negative impacts of the partial implementation of the expired Lagos Metropolitan Master Plan, would in the next 20 years, seek to position the subject area into a world-class commercial, industrial, and cultural hub across the West African sub-region.

Olumide added that the plan was also aimed to promote the sustainability of the cultural and historical heritage of Lagos Island while advancing a new dimension in the regeneration of traditional communities.

He stated that the consultant adopted a participatory procedure in preparing the plan to make it the outcome of different levels of stakeholders’ involvement.

“To ensure that no group is left behind in contributing to the achievement of a resilient, sustainable, and organised Lagos Island of our dream, the Draft Final Plan of the Lagos Island Model City Plan was displayed to the public for 28 days between 17th May and 23rd June 2023.

“This was followed by presentations and engagements with other relevant MDAs and interest groups, including the Isale Eko Descendants Union,” Olumide said.

Chairman House Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sylvester Ogunkelu, urged Lagos Island Indigenes to give their support for the enactment of the Model City Plan, which is expected to give a face lift to the Lagos Island environment.

The Special Adviser, e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, noted that planning for the future development of Lagos Island was essential as planning was universal and dynamic.

The consultants, led by the project manager, Mr. Salim Eid, presented the Draft Final Lagos Island Model City Plan along the thematic areas of challenges and issues, opportunities and positioning as well as strategies and outcomes, some of which include flood protection and mitigation, housing and community facilities, heritage and transportation among others.

Indigenes of Lagos Island, mostly represented by Oyinlomo Danmole, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, Prince Abiola Kosoko, Engr. Hakeem Gbajabiamila and Tpl. Lookman Oshodi, spoke severally on the need to incorporate their comments and concerns into the plan as they would like a blend of development and cultural heritage, devoid of gentrification.

Other speakers included Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Olanrewaju Afinni, the General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Arc. Gbolahan Oki and the Managing Director, Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), Ayo Joseph.

Other notable personalities at the event included the Lagos Whitecap Chiefs, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Engr. Oluwole Sotire and former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. Toyin Ayinde.

This online newspaper gathered that some of the indigenes, in attendance at the stakeholders townhall meeting at Onikan, were those identified – either by their alliance with administration of the non-indigenes, for purpose of collecting money being dangled on stomach infrastructure ground, being that artificial impoverishment had been used as weaponisation of political power in effort to gaining people with faces of indigeneship to seek undue legitimacy for their unlawful actions or people identified as deprived owners of the land who have been with the non-indigenes in power for reason of playing with them to be able to get back their Lagos but who have now seen that none of the ways has paid off.

According to a source, “There is no sincerity in what they want to do because there is no development or modernisation of any city in any part of Lagos that can be achieved by a government dominated by people from other states except on how they will turn it to a cake to be shared by their respective states,” he said.

He added that, “I am sure the real indisputable owners ny indigrneship of Lagos State will now react as it is no longer a rumour but real there is a plan to turn them to Red Indies in their own land like it happened in America and is currently being conceived America and Israel against the indigenous people of Gaza. This time, we are not going to allowing them.

“And take note that non-indigenes, who are planning to use our own state political power to displace us are not Igbo people of South Eastern Nigeria, neither are they Hausa-Fulani people of Northern Nigeria, who are doing their legitimate businesses here. Those who want to displace us from our land are fellow Yoruba people who pretend to love us  from across the South West states of Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti but whose intent is solely to cut and stab us from the back.”