Lagos Government Must Compensate Oworonshoki Residents, Condemns House Of Assembly For Backing Community Ruler – says TIB
TIB Movement unequivocally condemned the alignment of the members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee set up to oversee matters surrounding the illegal demolition in Oworonshoki communities.
Human rights and pro-democracy group, the Take-It-Back Movement (TIB) has insisted that the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State government must pay for damages done and lives lost as a result of their collective inhuman actions unjustly lunched on the people of Oworonshoki communities through the Ministry of Environment and Lagos State Taskforce.
TIB Movement unequivocally condemned the alignment of the members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee set up to oversee matters surrounding the illegal demolition in Oworonshoki communities.
SaharaReporters reported on September 5, that residents of Oworonshoki in the Kosofe local government of Lagos State stormed the premises of the state House of Assembly to protest the continued demolition of their houses by the state government, without providing them with alternative shelters.
The residents, in their numbers, paraded the assembly complex with placards displaying their displeasure over their sudden eviction from their community despite their support to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) during February election.
SaharaReporters had reported how residents of Oworonshoki and Idi Araba communities in the Kosofe and Mushin local government areas of the state were thrown into lamentation in July as Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration embarked on the demolition of their houses.
It had been reported on September 3 that the Lagos State House of Assembly invited the residents of Oworonshoki in the Kosofe local government area of the state over the continued demolition of their houses, without providing them with alternative shelters.
However, in statement issued on Wednesday, Take-It-Back Movement said it has closely watched the proceedings and position of members of committee set up by Lagos State House of Assembly, to oversee matters surrounding the illegal demolition in Oworonshoki communities.
The group, however, described as unfortunate that the House and its disingenuous Committee chaired by Honourable Nureni Akinsanya representing Mushin Constituency 1, unanimously and conspicuously derogated the poor masses, who voted them into political offices.
The statement partly read: “At the appearance of the Oba of Oworonshoki at The State House of Assembly and with the formal and informal proceedings with the people of Oworonshoki, the Oba stated:
“He knows nothing about the demolition as against the statement of Lagos State Taskforce.
“That the communities concerned do not involve Precious Seed (whose part were burnt, but saved for the peoples intervention), but Odunfa, Oke-Eri, Lone (popularly referred to as “Power Base”) and Coker communities.
“That he monitored and confirmed it himself after getting reports that the communities involved are criminal hideouts.
“That those areas are his father’s ancestral lands. He (the oba) has documents to show for it. However, the State House of Assembly posits that the land is government’s acquisition. While the Surveyor General of the state mentioned that a secluded part of the land is meant for Ferry Jetty by the state.
“Unfortunately, members of the committee are observed to be a judge against the people, in favour of the Oba. They have profusely manoeuvred the people to appeal to the king, regardless of illegalities and dehumanisation committed.
“We have also observed that notable frontliners in the protest against this illegality were threatened and some were advanced for some sort of personal gratifications.
“We hereby state clearly, that regardless of whatever undemocratic gimmick played by the State House and its treacherous committee in connivance with the Oba, justice will prevail, as no one is above the law.
“Lagos State Government of Babajide Sanwo-Olu must pay for damages done and lives lost as a result of their collective inhuman actions unjustly lunched out on the people of Oworonshoki, by the Ministry of Environment/ Lagos State Taskforce.
“Innocent lives were lost which included infants and a pregnant woman. It is high time we cared for lives and properties in this country, regardless of their social castes.”
It maintained its demand which is that appropriate compensation should be paid to the victims of the vicious demolition and properly reinstated.
(SaharaReporters)