Lagos “as no man’s land” does not mean a disrespect to the Obas and indegenes of Lagos or that the territory of Lagos is not the ancestral place of persons of Yoruba origin. It only gives recognition to the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos State.
It is also a concept that is of strategic advantage to Lagos State in our increasingly fractious Nigeria. I will explain with an example. When the first elected Government of Lagos State was inaugurated in 1979, the fate of Lagos in the Nigerian Federation hung in the balance. Although it was still the seat of the Federal Government, there was hesitation about further Federal Government investment in the State in view of the State having assumed a parochial flavour as just one of the States in Nigeria. Shagari therefore refused to complete the Third Mainland Bridge or make any further meaningful Federal Government investment in the State.
To counter this, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the first civilian Governor of Lagos State, who was an indegene of the State, unlike the present Ara-Oke mercenaries that have seized the territory under the deception of fighting a Yoruba cause, in his inaugural speech, had to appeal to all Nigerians to see Lagos as their home and therefore to continue to regard and treat the State specially as a place for all. There is controversy as to whether or not Jakande used the expression “no man’s land” to describe Lagos. However, his speech was clear that all Nigerians should take pride in Lagos as the place for all and sundry.
The present parochialism, which is fueled by persons, who weaponize it to continue to divide the population of Lagos and divert their attention from their welfare and good governance, while they maintain their grip on power, is certain to backfire in the future. Lagos is in control of the Federal Government today. However, that will not be forever. All that is being said today is sure to be recounted in the future.
Lagos has a future and potential to be one of the largest and most advanced cities of the world that is being threatened by the present parochialism. The present handlers of Lagos are driving the State to the place where those outside of the State, who are envious of it want it to be. In the years to come, the present parochialism of those temporarily in charge of Lagos will be regretted.
By Chuks Nwachuku legal practitioner; and leadership and good governance advocate; [email protected]
