Many Nigerians of various ethnic divide have spoken against the wanton destructions of properties in some parts of Lagos where demolition of buildings allegedly belonging to Igbos are going on.
It was reported that the South-West Zone of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) said occupants of houses marked for demolition at the Festac Phase II area and other areas of Lagos state violated land and building rules of the Lagos State Government rules.
The agency reportedly disclosed a plan to pull down 677 houses, while 744 others will be partially demolished over infringement.
However, many Igbo people claim the action is deliberately targeted at them for no reasons and should therefore be suspended.
Reports available to NewsEcho informed the Federal Housing Authority resumed the demolition of acclaimed illegal buildings in Festac, Lagos, over the weekend.
The Authorities said they are bringing down “distressed buildings” to “prevent disaster and save lives.”
According a source, over 22, 677 houses were marked for demolition. “We were just given just 2 hours to pack our belongings. Is this not bad? I seriously feel sad seeing what this people in government houses are doing to people they never supported in anyway.”
“I haven’t seen any country where they demolish their finest structures. This is pure attack on the Igbos. I am sure Lagos will soon become a shadow of its own.”
Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), said on Monday that those who want Igbo out of Lagos State or Nigeria should conduct a Biafra referendum.
According to Ejimakor: “The relentless demolition in Lagos is so notoriously discriminatory and unjust, such that it will surely trouble Lagos State with countless scorched-earth litigations.
“For now, it has done so much to add to the systemic injustices that make it very tough for Ndigbo to be Nigerians.”
There have been claims that the Lagos State government is targeting and demolishing markets populated by Igbos. Also, there are rampant allegations that buildings owned by Igbos are being demolished by the state government.
But regrettably, one of those affected was former Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike, who claimed that his house was demolished by the Lagos State government despite getting due approval from relevant authorities.
Recall that, in June this year, various levels of demolition of shops belonging to Igbos at Alaba International Market in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, were recorded with pains.
In his submission, Reno Omokri has said it is extremely ungrateful for anyone to accuse the Lagos State Government of demolishing their houses just because they are Igbos.
According to Omokri, several palatial houses in various estates within the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area were pulled down by officials of the Federal Housing Authority for allegedly contravening housing and development regulations. Some residents of the area alleged that their houses were demolished because they are of the Igbo ethnic group.
In a post shared on his Instagram page, Reno wrote; ‘’It is extremely ungrateful to accuse the Lagos State Government of demolishing your houses because you are Igbo. Do you know how many Igbos are employed by the Lagos State Civil Service Commission? Thousands! Has any of them been sacked? In the Southeast, some Igbo states sacked fellow Igbos as civil servants because they come from a neighbouring Igbo state. Has that ever happened in Lagos? Two months ago, Anambra State advertised civil service jobs and asked non indigenes not to bother applying.
Had that ever occurred in Lagos? Do you know how easy it would be for the Lagos State Government to replicate what Anambra did? There are over 50 Igbos elected or appointed as Commissioners, Representatives, Assemblymen and women and LGA Chairmen in Lagos. Throughout the Southeast how many Lagosians, or people of Southwest or Northern origin are elected or appointed into government or the civil service? Yet, you are falsely accusing this same Lagos of demolishing your illegal structures because of your ethnicity. What a calamity!”
Meanwhile, Igbo Youth under the aegis of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has send a Save Our Soul (SOS) message to governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu over the demolition of Igbo houses in Rockview Estate in Ajao,Lagos State.
In his warning, President General of the Igbo group, Goodluck Ibem said “Governor Sanwu-Olu is gradually building up anarchy and a war which might consume the entire Nation. We warn him to retrace his step and stop forthwith the demolition of Igbo houses in Lagos State.
“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 constitutional 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.
