The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola yesterday ordered investigation into the death of Chief? Timothy Huntoyanwha alleged to have been slain by a security officer monitoring the demolition of Iwaya/ Makoko Waterfront located in Yaba Local Council Development Area.
The Governor who addressed the displaced residents of the slum settlement that came to protest the demolition of their shanties , expressed deep sorrow and tendered unreserved apology for the loss of life arising from the demolition exercise.
The visibly disturbed Governor assured that the ugly incident would be investigated, noting that the government did not carry out the demolition for its own benefit but for the generality of the people in the state.
Fashola who also justified their dislodgement added that government would not fold its arms and allow continuous expansion being witnessed on daily basis on the lagoon, pointing out that it was capable of endangering their lives , the? ecosystem and environment.
He explained that the state government understands the challenges confronting the people, not only in Makoko but including Okobaba which led to three meetings held earlier between the government and representatives of both communities.
He said: “We have had three meetings with your representatives and Okobaba’s representatives. Okobaba people are ready to move, and we are preparing a suitable place for them to continue their work in Agbowa area of the state. But, your representatives insisted Makoko residents preferred to stay and what we are witnessing is daily expansion of illegal structures on the lagoon.
?“We intervened because we saw daily expansion on the lagoon and the lagoon is shrinking. We will not allow continuous expansion in that place. It has to stop. Those within the recognised boundary in the area have no problem but those who put up new structures have to leave. You cannot build on the lagoon, we have to preserve and protect it“.
The Governor who hinted on government’s plans for the waterfront said: “We have a plan to turn that place to Venice of Africa. I am committed to the idea. Don’t let some people continue to deceive you because if you allow them, they will be benefitting from your difficulties”.
Fashola explained to the protesters that some people were taking advantage of their ignorance and feeding fat by collecting foreign grants that did not get to them.
“I appeal to you to go back peacefully and appoint some of your leaders to meet me as soon as possible to chart a way forward. My doors are open, the earlier we talk with each other the better to move forward than to talk to each other. The truth is that we have to protect our ecosystem and the environment,” he said.
Earlier, the head of Makoko Community, Chief Yusuf Jejelaye had told members of the Lagos State executive council that Makoko residents were yet to enjoy dividends of democracy despite the fact that they voted for the ruling party in the state.
The community leader flanked by the protesters who were conveyed in various commercial buses to the secretariat brandishing placards with inscription such as, “Shelter is our right, Lagos State Government respect our privacy and right,” “Leave Makoko residents alone”, “Respect us as citizens of Lagos, we are not foreigners,” among others, debunked the information that government decided to demolish the structures on the lagoon because it serves as a haven for criminals.
According to him, “We are all fishermen and fishing is the only work that we have been doing from generation to generation. We are begging the government to leave us alone on the water. We are like fish that cannot survive outside water. If we are finally displaced from on top of the water, we cannot survive”.
Jejelaye, who came with their Lawyer Felix Mouka, appealed to the Governor to stop the demolition exercise and allow them to return back to the place they have always known as home.
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