Ajao Estate Demolition: The Igbo Are Target Of  Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Action

By Akinwale Kasali

A Group under the aegis of Coalition Of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has alleged that the demolition of houses in Ajao Estate is a witch-hunt against the Igbo over the 2023 Presidential Election that saw the All Progressives Congress, APC, lose in Lagos State to Labour Party.

The Group expressed its disenchantment over the demolition of houses in the area mostly owned by people from the South East.

They accused Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu of fanning the ember of hatred and ethnic hostilities in the State.

The demolition exercise carried out by the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA commenced on Friday last week all through the weekend and saw over 13 houses demolished on orders of the Governor.

The reason for the demolition, according to the General Manager, of Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, is that the affected buildings lacked required approvals and were cited around airport-restricted areas and on aviation fuel pipelines.

Describing the situation as a disaster waiting to happen, Oki said the buildings could cause a pipeline explosion in the future which according to him, could result in loss of lives and properties.

Oki stressed that the property owners lacked the required documents as approvals for construction in that area.

Debunking the claims of the Lagos State Government and LASBCA, the Group said that most of the affected buildings were owned by Igbo people living in Lagos.

COSEYL , the apex Igbo socio-political youth group in the South East,  dismissed the excuses by LASBCA as flimsy, alleging that the action was a political vendetta.

It claimed it was targeted against Ndigbo for voting against the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, in Lagos during the just-concluded general elections.

The Group in a Statement through its President General, Goodluck Ibem, called on Governor Sanwo-Olu to immediately halt the action to avoid igniting civil unrest.

The statement read in part: “COSEYL is enraged over the massive demolition and destruction of houses and property belonging to Igbos in Rockview Ajao Estate and other areas supposedly won by the Labour Party, LP, during the presidential elections in Lagos State.

“This is wicked, barbaric, senseless, and stupidity of the highest order.

“Governor Sanwu-Olu is gradually building up anarchy and a war that might consume the entire Nation. We warn him to retrace his step and stop forthwith the demolition of Igbo houses in Lagos State.”

It further alleged that the situation has confirmed that the Lagos State Government had explanations to offer in the fire outbreaks in some Igbo-dominated markets in Lagos.

It also challenged the State Government to explain all it knew about ” the attacks and killings of Igbos during the general elections in Lagos”.

The statement further read: “Dr. William Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo of blessed memory ones said that If you are emotionally attached to your tribe, religion or political leaning to the point that truth and justice become secondary considerations, your education is useless. Your exposure is useless. If you cannot reason beyond petty sentiments, you are a liability to mankind”.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to call Governor Sanwu-Olu to order before he throws the country into anarchy and lawlessness.

“Nigerians no matter the tribe are constitutionally empowered by law to live in any state or community of their choice and that law to bigger than Sanwu-Olu and his partners in crime to change overnight.

“We call on the United Nations and the international community to immediately intervene while also placing a visa ban on Governor Sanwu-Olu and his partners in this wickedness against humanity.”