By Akinwale Kasali
Protests, which triggered pandemonium, have rocked Bariga Local Council Development Area, LCDA, over the renaming of Ilaje Road with the name of legendary Juju Musician, King Sunny Ade.
Before the exit of the immediate past Chairman of Bariga LCDA, Kolade Alabi, from Office, he had announced the name change, even after the residents warned that any move to perfect the change would be resisted.
In the protest letter, they stated that the former Chairman acted unconstitutionally and without the approval of the Local Councillors before changing the names of Streets.
According to the demonstrators, Ilaje Road is a symbol of their heritage and should remain unchanged.
The President General of Egbe Omo Ilaje, Raphael Irowanu, expressed concern that there was a broader plan to marginalize the Ilaje people in Lagos.
He stated that the Ilaje community, with a population of about four million people in Lagos State, has deep roots in Yoruba history and should not be treated as outsiders.
According to him, the renaming of the road, as well as the ongoing demolition of their homes, are signs of targeted erasure.
He warned that the political consequences of ignoring the community’s concerns could affect the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 Elections.
The President also noted that naming the road after King Sunny Ade, a musician from Ondo State like the Ilaje people, could lead to conflict rather than unity.
Addressing the demonstrators, the Baale of the Ilaje/Bariga Community, Kayode Ayetiwa, said the new LCDA Chairperson, Bukola Adedeji, had called him to plead with him not to welcome her with a protest.
While disclosing that the New Council Boss promised to reverse the decision, the Traditional Ruler emphasized that the name, Ilaje road, has been in use since 1948 and is an important part of the Community’s identity.
He said the residents would not allow their cultural history to be erased by replacing the name with that of any individual, regardless of their fame.
However, President TeamNigeria4change, Otunba Bestman Nze-Jumbo has cautioned against politicising the change of name of some streets in Lagos.
Nze-Jumbo stated this while featuring on News Central Television to discuss issue of Street Renaming in some Local Government and Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.
He noted that Street Renaming is the responsibility of Local Government inline with provisions of the constitution.
He further noted that the recent exercise (change of street name) is not the first time or limited to Lagos State.
According to him, some people are trying to politicise the issue.
“I Have seen where Local Government change the name of a Street after a Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Itsekiri, Edo person etc.
“We should not read politics or ethnical sentiments to this issue. People must stop the rumours, and stop fanning the ember of hate and discord”, he noted.
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