The Igbo Presence in Lagos Is Lawful Says Dr. Bolaji Akinyemi As He Calls Sanwo-Olu To Act

I read with deep concern the unsigned and shameful document issued in the name of “Yoruba Elders Progressive Council (YEPC)” titled “Our Land, Our Identity: Lagos State Government Must Act Before We’re Made Strangers at Home.” It is unfortunate that in 2025, in a democratic Nigeria where the Constitution reigns supreme, some cowards cloaked in the name of Yoruba elders still find it acceptable to publish ethnic bile and incite division without the courage to sign their names.

As a proud Yoruba son, a senior citizen, and a disciple of the progressive school of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, I cannot keep silent. At the same time, these masked agitators try to drag the Yoruba identity into the mud of tribal bigotry and reckless political opportunism.

Point by point, let me now respond to their disturbing and dangerous narrative.

1. The Igbo Presence in Lagos Is Lawful, Not Provocative

To suggest that Ndigbo are provoking anyone by living, working, or acquiring property in Lagos is contrary to the Nigerian Constitution. Lagos is not a tribal empire but a federated state within the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Every Nigerian has a constitutional right to live, own property, and vote in any part of the country.

The suggestion that Igbos are “excessive, disrespectful and provocative” for exercising this right is not only false, it is evil. This same thinking once led to pogroms, and eventually, civil war. Do we want to return to that dark path?

2. Property Ownership Is Not a Declaration of War

The alarmist claim that the Igbos are buying up land in “clusters” to dominate Lagos politically is mischievous and misleading. Are we now criminalising commerce and development? Is it only when Yoruba buy land that it is called investment, but when Igbos do, it becomes an ethnic threat?

Let us be honest: Lagos thrives today because of the inclusive spirit that allows diverse people — Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Ijaw, Efik, foreigners — to bring their best to this city. Attacking people for being industrious and prosperous is nothing but the politics of envy, not indigenous interest.

3. “Co-ownership” Is a Constitutional Reality, Not a Cultural Threat

The Constitution does not recognise “ancestral ownership” of federated states. The law acknowledges citizenship, residency, and legality, not tribal roots. When Igbos — or anyone — say “Lagos belongs to all, ” they affirm constitutional truth, not rewriting history.

No matter how loud YEPC shouts, they cannot relinquish Section 43 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to own immovable property anywhere in the country.

4. The Land Tenure Proposal Is Xenophobic and Illegal

To propose that the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for non-Yorubas be reduced from 100 years to 25 is not only illegal but ethnic apartheid disguised as policy. It is a direct attack on the Nigerian Constitution and cannot stand in any competent court of law.

What will happen if Anambra or Enugu enacts the same policy against Yoruba living there? What happens to Yoruba traders thriving in Sabon Gari, Aba, Onitsha, or even Accra and Johannesburg? Must they now be punished for the crimes of land ownership?

This policy proposal reeks of the same mindset that once inspired Rwanda’s genocide.

5. Lagos Certificate of Origin Cannot Be Ethnically Weaponised

The idea of revoking Lagos Certificates of Origin unless “lineage” is traced is a laughable descent into ethnic nativism. It violates every tenet of modern governance, federalism, and democratic equality.

Suppose Lagos wants to create a new tribal passport. In that case, a new constitution must also be made because it guarantees every Nigerian full citizenship rights wherever they live.

This proposal is not only unworkable but also dangerous. It sets Lagos on fire under the false guise of heritage protection.

6. “Legal and Cultural Safeguards” Are Not Justifications for Prejudice

Using language like “guests claiming ownership of their host’s house” to describe fellow Nigerians is insulting, dangerous, and unpatriotic. The Igbo are not guests in Lagos. They are stakeholders — builders, contributors, citizens.

Ndigbo are Nigerian citizens residing in Lagos who have the right to vote and be voted for. They pay taxes, run businesses, and contribute to the State’s IGR. What else defines citizenship if not contribution?

7. The Call to Action Is a Call to Tyranny

YEPC says Lagos must not become a “no-man’s land.” Let me respond clearly: Lagos is every man’s land, as far as the Nigerian Constitution is concerned.

The attempt to romanticise tribal dominance with words like “ancestral identity” and “cultural preservation” is simply the old wine of ethnic supremacy in a new bottle.

8. On History and Heritage: Stop the Weaponisation of Culture

History should enlighten, not inflame. Lagos was built by the collective sweat of many. Lagos has always been cosmopolitan, from the Benin kingdom’s influence to the Awori and Ijebu settlers, the Brazilian returnees, and the colonial powers.

The Yoruba are foundational to Lagos, but not exclusive owners of its future. Any group that claims otherwise seeks to build walls in place of bridges.

9. The Comparison with the East and the North Is Hypocritical

It is hypocritical to say, “In the East or North, others can’t own land,” while crying foul when people lawfully own property in Lagos. That is the same feudal mentality that has hindered progress elsewhere.

Lagos must lead by example, not regress into ethnic tribalism. We must not copy what is backwards elsewhere; we must be the model of modern civility and legal fairness.

10. The Yoruba Elders Progressive Council is neither Progressive Nor Elders

Real Yoruba elders, the Omoluabi, are defined by wisdom, justice, and honour—not anonymous hate speech or cowardly propaganda.

The historical records of the labour of heroes past in Lagos speak against the position of this Elder of hate.

Herbert Macaulay (1864–1946) – Though not a formal governor, he was a nationalist and key indigenous political actor in Lagos. A Democrat who founded the NNDP (Nigeria’s first political party) in 1923. Dr. J.C. Vaughan, Dr. Kofo Abayomi, and Sir Adeyemo Alakija were all key members of the Lagos elite who influenced policy through the Lagos Town Council. There is no record of their threat to other tribes’ residences in Lagos.

Under Regional Era – Western Region (1954–1967)

Lagos was the capital of Nigeria, but still part of the Western Region until it became a separate federal territory.

Obafemi Awolowo (Premier of the Western Region, 1954–1959) — Though based in Ibadan, he had indirect administrative influence over Lagos.

Bode Thomas, Samuel Akintola, and others from the Action Group shaped policies affecting Lagos in this era. Federal Territory of Lagos & Military Era (1967–1979)

With the creation of Lagos State in 1967 under General Gowon, the state began to have Military Governors:

1. Brig. Gen. Mobolaji Johnson (1967–1975)

First Military Governor of Lagos State

Highly respected, helped develop early infrastructure.

Indigenous Lagosian, widely regarded as fair and progressive.

2. Commodore Michael Adekunle Lawal (1975–1977)

Continued the administrative structure post-Gowon.

Someone must tell the Jokers that Ndigbo were among the men who built modern Lagos.

1. Commodore Ndubuisi Kanu (1977–1978)

An Igbo man governed Lagos during Obasanjo’s military government.

2. Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (1978–1979)

Another Igbo handed over power to the civilian administration in 1979.

Civilian Era Begins – Lateef Jakande (1979–1983)

Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande

First Executive Governor of Lagos State (1979–1983) under the UPN.

He was an Awolowo disciple who implemented populist policies without discrimination in education, health, housing, and transport. Widely regarded as the most impactful governor in Lagos’ history, he stood for equity and fairness, not ethnic exclusion.

The Labour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu began the exploits of the 4th Republic in Lagos State, a citizen allegedly with ancestral roots originally from Iragbiji in Osun State. He was followed by Babatunde Raji Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, who did their best and left the rest to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, under whom ethnic sanderling seems to be a political strategy of the political elites.

Is Mr Governor’s body language suggestive of the support this uncanny Elders are offering? Mr Sanwo-Olu must state that he must dissociate himself and his administration from a bunch of cowards who published such a document without a signature. A proof of guilt. If you are bold enough to peddle hate, be bold enough to put your name to it.

Conclusion: We Must Not Let Tribal Madness Become State Policy

Let me be clear: the Lagos State Government must distance itself from this dangerous document. It must not allow tribal entrepreneurs to drag our state into the pit of ethnic cleansing through policy.

This is not a time for silence. All true Yoruba sons and daughters — the Omoluabi — must rise and publicly disown this tribal gang.

Let me end with the words of our sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo: “Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression.” Yet, he spent his life building unity across that geography. He never advocated exclusion or hatred. Those hijacking his progressive legacy to propagate tribal hate are retrogressive opportunists.

I call on the media, civil society, the Lagos State House of Assembly, and every peace-loving Nigerian to reject this tribal nonsense.

If we fail to act now, we may soon wake up in a city where fire rages and nobody knows who lit the match.

Signed:

Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi

Yoruba Elder, Democrat, and Citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

PRESS STATEMENT

For Immediate Release

Uyo, 11 August 2025

Incident Involving an Unruly Passenger on August 10, 2025

Ibom Air confirms that on Sunday, August 10, 2025, an incident occurred on board our Uyo–Lagos flight involving a passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, whose conduct posed a serious threat to the safety of our crew, passengers, and aircraft.

Shortly before take-off from Uyo, Ms. Emmanson was instructed in line with standard aviation safety procedures, to switch off her mobile phone. She bluntly refused to comply until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off. This action prompted a verbal tirade from Ms. Emmanson. The situation was eventually calmed, and the flight departed as scheduled.

Upon arrival in Lagos, Ms. Emmanson waited for all other passengers to disembark and then proceeded to confront the Purser who had earlier instructed her. She walked up to the unsuspecting Purser, stepped on her, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses and threw it to the floor, and used her footwear to assault her. She slapped her several times and when the other cabin crew member tried to intervene, she slapped her too. She then attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, an act that could have damaged and grounded the aircraft.

By this time, the Pilot-in-Command had alerted airport security. Before security could arrive, the Purser as seen on the viral video on the internet, prevented the passenger from leaving the aircraft until security arrived. The arrival of Ibom Air Security personnel, did not deter the passenger as she attacked them as well, lashing out violently at both Ibom Air and FAAN security. She was then restrained and removed from the aircraft by force. Even after disembarking, she continued to assault both Ibom Air and FAAN security staff, and even slapped the ground supervisor.

The passenger was removed from the ramp and taken into custody by FAAN security and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.

Ibom Air has since submitted a report on the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and placed a travel restriction on Ms. Emmanson, who will no longer be permitted to fly on any of our aircraft.

Ibom Air reiterates its zero-tolerance policy towards any form of unruly or violent conduct that threatens the safety of passengers, crew, or equipment. Such behavior will be met with the strongest possible response, including legal action and permanent restriction from our services.

We commend the bravery and professionalism of our crew in handling this situation under extremely challenging circumstances, as well as the swift support from airport security and the Nigeria Police.

Safety remains our highest priority. We urge all passengers to comply with crew instructions at all times for the safety, security, and comfort of everyone on board.

Signed

Ibom Airlines Limited

August 11, 2025

SERAP, NGE want court to stop Niger governor, NBC from intimidating Badeggi FM

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have filed a lawsuit against Umar Bago, Niger state governor and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over “the ongoing intimidation of Badeggi FM Radio, Minna, and the threat to shut down the station and weaponize the NBC and law enforcement agents to further crackdown on the station and its owner Shuaibu Badeggi.”

Mr Bago recently threatened to strip Badeggi FM radio of its licence, seal the media outfit, demolish its premises, and profile the station’s owner, having been unhappy with the station’s broadcasts. The privately‑owned station, and its owner face ongoing threat, intimidation and harassment.

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1587/2025 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP and NGE are asking the court to determine “whether by section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and section 2(1)(t) of the NBC Act, the NBC has the legal duty to protect Badeggi FM from the ongoing intimidation from the governor.”

SERAP and NGE are asking the court for “a declaration that by the combined provisions of section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution and section 2(1)(t) of the NBC Act, the NBC has the legal duty to protect Badeggi FM station and other broadcasting outlets in Nigeria from any threat, intimidation and harassment.”

SERAP and NGE are also seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Niger state governor and NBC from further harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to shut down Badeggi FM radio, revoke its licence and profile the station’s owner.”

In the suit, SERAP and NGE are arguing that: “Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the governor will continue to threaten, intimidate and harass the radio station and its owner and may weaponize the NBC against the station.”

SERAP and NGE are arguing that, “the failure and/or neglect of the NBC to protect and defend the independence of Badeggi FM radio against arbitrary executive interference and ongoing intimidation constitutes a breach of its statutory duty to ensure fair, independent, and lawful broadcasting practices in Nigeria.”

SERAP and NGE are also arguing that, “the ongoing intimidation, and threat by Mr Bago to strip Badeggi FM station of its licence, further threat to demolish the station’s premises and profile its owner is unlawful and a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.”

According to SERAP and NGE, “the allegations of inciting violence against Badeggi FM and its owner are vague, unfounded and unsubstantiated and apparently made to silence the radio station.”

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP and NGE by their lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part: “The media plays an essential role as a vehicle or instrument for the exercise of freedom of expression and information – in its individual and collective aspects – in a democratic society.”

“Intimidating, harassing and silencing critical or dissenting voices under the guise of vague and unsubstantiated national security concerns is a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.”

“Intimidating, harassing and silencing Badeggi FM and its owner would have a chilling effect on the protection of freedom of expression and media freedom across several states.”

“The ongoing intimidation, harassment and threat to arbitrarily revoke the station’s licence, unlawfully demolish its premises and profile its owner are all clearly antithetical to the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.”

“The ongoing intimidation and harassment of Badeggi FM and its owner is capable of discouraging participation of the press in debates over matters of legitimate public concern ahead of the 2027 general elections.”

“The ongoing intimidation and harassment of Badeggi FM, its owner and other staff members of the station constitute a serious restriction on the development of democracy in the country, since it impedes free debate over ideas and opinions.”

“Media outlets in Niger state should be free to enable debate on issues of public interest without fear of reprisals.”

“Both Mr Bago and the NBC have the duty to respect and uphold their constitutional and statutory obligations to ensure that journalists and media houses that regularly impart information on matters of public interest including Badeggi FM enjoy an environment to perform that function.”

“There is significant public interest in the capacity of the press including Badeggi FM to obtain and impart the information that it needs to function properly and perform its vital public watchdog role.”

“Any restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom must be provided by law, imposed to protect legitimate aims, and necessary to protect those aims.”

“While the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties recognize national security and public order as legitimate aims for restricting freedom of expression, the UN Human Rights Council has stressed ‘the need to ensure that the invocation of national security is not used arbitrarily to restrict freedom of expression’.”

“Mr Bago reportedly ordered the immediate shutdown of Badeggi, ordered the station’s premises to be marked for demolition and requested the Commissioner of Homeland Security to profile the station’s owner Shuaibu Badeggi on unfounded allegations that the station ‘promotes violence.’”

“Mr Bago also reportedly stated that the ‘daily activities of the radio station have been unethical’, and accused the owner of the station of incitement of the people against the government.”

“A journalist’s or a radio station’s right to freedom of expression is protected even if the opinion advanced is not positively received.”

“The Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties protect the press not merely so that specific journalists may conduct their work; they protect the press in order to guarantee the public’s right of access to information in the public interest.”

“The free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between citizens, candidates and elected representatives is essential. This implies a free press and other media able to comment on public issues without censorship or restraint and to inform public opinion.”

SERAP and NGE are therefore asking the court for the following reliefs:

A DECLARATION that by the combined provisions of section 22 Nigerian Constitution and section 2(1)(t) of the National Broadcasting Act, the NBC is obligated by law to protect Badeggi FM station and other broadcasting outlets in Nigeria from undue interference from unauthorized persons or entity.

A DECLARATION that the failure and/or neglect of the NBC to protect and defend the independence of the radio station against arbitrary executive interference constitutes a breach of its statutory duty to ensure fair, independent, and lawful broadcasting practices in Nigeria.

A DECLARATION that the ongoing intimidation and threat issued by Mr Bago to strip Badeggi FM station of its operational licence and further threat to demolish the station’s premises is unlawful and a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.

A DECLARATION that the threat issued by the Bago to strip Badeggi FM radio station of its operational licence encroaches upon the statutory powers of the NBC as provided for under section 2 of the National Broadcasting Commission Act.

AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the governor and NBC, its agents and privies from harassing, intimidating and/or threatening to revoke the operating licence of Badeggi FM station or any other broadcasting outlet in Niger State.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Kolawole Oluwadare

SERAP Deputy Director

10/08/2025

Lagos, Nigeria

Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org

Twitter: @SERAPNigeria

Website: www.serap-nigeria.org

For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202

Onuoha Ukeh

General Secretary

Nigerian Guild of Editors [NGE]