By Akinwale Kasali
The Indigenes of Akodo and Ibeju Lekki in Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State have sent a Save Our Soul, SOS, appeal to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu to avert a face-off between the indigenes of the area and the state’s Commissioner of Waterfront, Arc. Kabiru Ahmed.
The angry indigenes alleged that Ahmed is engaging in intensive land-grabbing activities and conversion of the beachfront properties for private use by surreptitiously using the government to forcefully dispossess land owners of their property without paying them compensation or following acceptable global practices on such matters.
The Head of the Balogun Olooro Family in Akodo and Ibeju Lekki, said that 48 Plots of Land have been illegally seized from his people by the Commissioner.
In a statement by the Balogun Olooro Family, it stated that “Before explaining to the public events leading to this land grabbing attempt by the commissioner of waterfront, we wish to state that the Balogun Olooro family of Akodo owns a large expanse of land facing the Beach beside the popular EKO-TOURIST and landed properties which housed the former Ibeju-Lekki, Local Government Secretariat and now housing the Police Base in Ibeju-Lekki.
“To the surprise of the family, we started seeing Architect Kabiru Ahmed visiting the property secretly even at odd hours and upon our investigation and challenging him, we noticed a private hotel development plan which is neither for the Federal Government, State Government to say the least for the local government and the secret issuance of allocation letter to an undisclosed private developer in the state by the ministry of lands. After the discovery of the above, we requested an official meeting with Architect Kabiru Ahmed via phone calls which he never picked and via text messages which he never responded.
“Then we engaged the services of an indigenous lawyer who wrote him several letters seeking his attention to explain the prime purpose of grabbing the said 48 Plots for private use and to see how the families can be compensated and not lose the land that is now worth well over One Billion Naira only. Up till the writing of this letter, the Architect Kabiru Ahmed never responded nor hearkened to the yearnings of the landowners and yet he is seen developing the property without either for overriding public interest purposes or payment of compensation to the natives.
“Gleaning from the above and without mincing words, we see Architect Kabiru Ahmed as a land grabber in Government Uniform who deserves to be sanctioned by the Executive Governor of Lagos State. To us as indigenes of Lagos state, we see it as a slap for non-indigenes from Katsina State to grab our land by using the force of government to subdue our people and get away with it without check from government. THIS IS UNFAIR!!!”.
The family further alleged that the violent approach employed by the commissioner is an indication that Governor Sanwo-olu may not be aware of what is going on.
Stressing that If Ahmed is interested in acquiring the property, he should approach the family for possible negotiations and not by using his position in the government to grab what doesn’t belong to him.
The family has therefore cautioned the Commissioner, and any unauthorised persons to desist from encroaching on the property as ownership and possession of the property still reside in the Balogun Olooro Family Of Akodo, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State as empowered by all the laws regulating property ownership in Nigeria.
The family also called on Governor Sanwo-Olu to prevail on Ahmed and his shadow land-grabbing (Waterfront) cartels to stop this ungodly, illegal, unlawful attempt as it constitutes a criminal attempt to cause a breach of the public peace with the potential to escalate into serious violence.
The Olooro family has also called on the State House of Assembly under the leadership of Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa to commence an immediate investigation into the land-grabbing atrocities of the commissioner and his sponsors.
“We want to declare that Nigeria is a country governed by law and all citizens of the country are to submit to the rule of law for peace and justice to reign.
“If however, the executive governor of Lagos State and the House of Assembly fail to take action, we would be compelled to take the matter beyond Lagos State and ask the ICPC to look into this land-grabbing spree by the Commissioner. We have never doubted the capacity of the government of Lagos State to deal with matters like this as we assure of our esteem cooperation,” the family stressed.
