FUNKE ADETUTU
Sometime in the 1970s, something unusual happened in the then Gold Coast now called Ghana. Citizens from foreign countries were asked to leave Ghana for their respective countries. Then, it was very much unlike now that the message being preached in most countries of the world is that the world should become a ‘global village.’ Much later, Nigeria retaliated and Ghanaians were asked to leave Nigeria. Much later however, the old friendliness between the two countries was restored and the ‘cold war’ was consigned into the thrash can of history. What’s Funke exactly driving at, you ask?
Well, reported comments attributed to Lagos State Government some time ago when the demolition process in the state that really affected some residents got me thinking and I wonder if that should happen, otherwise, what will become of Lagos? If what I hear is correct, that the governor advised the displaced persons to return to their hometowns since it seems Lagos can no longer accommodate them, then I see this as a kind of re-enactment of what happened between Nigeria and Ghana in the ‘70s. But this time, it’s not a battle between nationalities, it’s one between brothers and sisters, kinsmen closely knitted and related by blood, since we all belong to this great country.
Someone once offered that if the displaced ones were sent back to their hometowns, what would they fall back on? Many other people have asked what provisions the various state governments put in place to ensure that these people don’t return to “square one.” But I tell you, that in our dear country such thing is alien. No state government has ever thought of natives of his state sojourning to other states. They will just fall back on the same old cycle of hopelessness.
If for instance, they plan to venture into farming, on whose land would they till? Whose seeds would they plant? How do they get the money with which to buy manure and other farm implements? I can imagine how tough life would be for them. And if they decide to go into trading, then how do they get the money with which to purchase the goods? As little as N5,000 could be very difficult for these people to access. But the truth is, it all boils down to the fact that the government of each state must learn to take responsibility for their citizens.
On a very sincere note, I will like to look at this from two sides. It’s understandable that the state government is overwhelmed by the large influx of people into the state everyday, while hoping that something would be done to help them. So, if the state government says “go back to your village,” well, I cannot discount why it has said that. But then again, back to the earlier question, ‘what do they go to do?’ There is a lady at the Arch Bishop Taylor Memorial School that I met some weeks ago. Though from Oyo State, she is one of those displaced as a result of the on-going road construction going on at Lekki.
I asked if she would like to return to her village, but sarcastically, she laughed. It was a dry, and very pregnant laughter, that deeply sounded something more like, “what do I go back to do?” Yes, she has no house and you know, of course, the psychological side of it! Once a person comes to Lagos, the expectation is that such persons should return “home” richer, contented, a person that can now be looked up to, with loud expectations like, ‘so what have you brought back for us form Lagos?’ This huge expectations from the folks at home and the very many dependants of course, is what scares many from wanting to leave Lagos back to base. Many can’t stand the shame of “returning empty-handed,” and so would rather stay “put” and continue to suffer.
But if the truth must continue to be told, I think what Lagos State government should want to see happen is that other states take their social responsibility more seriously in terms of housing, infrastructure, job creation, etc. Lagos State for instance has employed more people to sweep the roads, to keep vigilance among others. This, regrettably, is not happening in many other states; and as long as those problems exist, so long will Lagos remain the honey pot that is attracted to by more and more pests.
Honestly, I insist there has be a kind of diplomatic relationship and synergy among all the states in the country. Maybe when next governors hold their meetings, pray they discuss these issues. Without sentiments and any sense of arrogance, me think Fashola as Lagos governor, should be able to meet with say Alao-Akala of Oyo State and stress it to him that ‘your people are worrying me in Lagos, so what are you doing about this?’ Yes, Akala may truly get angry and perhaps to further compound matters, all the more because they are in different political camps, but there has to be a way out of this! As long as we continue to see it as delicate issue that is difficult to surmount, so would the problem persist.
Sometime in the 1970s, something unusual happened in the then Gold Coast now called Ghana. Citizens from foreign countries were asked to leave Ghana for their respective countries. Then, it was very much unlike now that the message being preached in most countries of the world is that the world should become a ‘global village.’ Much later, Nigeria retaliated and Ghanaians were asked to leave Nigeria. Much later however, the old friendliness between the two countries was restored and the ‘cold war’ was consigned into the thrash can of history. What’s Funke exactly driving at, you ask?
Well, reported comments attributed to Lagos State Government some time ago when the demolition process in the state that really affected some residents got me thinking and I wonder if that should happen, otherwise, what will become of Lagos? If what I hear is correct, that the governor advised the displaced persons to return to their hometowns since it seems Lagos can no longer accommodate them, then I see this as a kind of re-enactment of what happened between Nigeria and Ghana in the ‘70s. But this time, it’s not a battle between nationalities, it’s one between brothers and sisters, kinsmen closely knitted and related by blood, since we all belong to this great country.
Someone once offered that if the displaced ones were sent back to their hometowns, what would they fall back on? Many other people have asked what provisions the various state governments put in place to ensure that these people don’t return to “square one.” But I tell you, that in our dear country such thing is alien. No state government has ever thought of natives of his state sojourning to other states. They will just fall back on the same old cycle of hopelessness.
If for instance, they plan to venture into farming, on whose land would they till? Whose seeds would they plant? How do they get the money with which to buy manure and other farm implements? I can imagine how tough life would be for them. And if they decide to go into trading, then how do they get the money with which to purchase the goods? As little as N5,000 could be very difficult for these people to access. But the truth is, it all boils down to the fact that the government of each state must learn to take responsibility for their citizens.
On a very sincere note, I will like to look at this from two sides. It’s understandable that the state government is overwhelmed by the large influx of people into the state everyday, while hoping that something would be done to help them. So, if the state government says “go back to your village,” well, I cannot discount why it has said that. But then again, back to the earlier question, ‘what do they go to do?’ There is a lady at the Arch Bishop Taylor Memorial School that I met some weeks ago. Though from Oyo State, she is one of those displaced as a result of the on-going road construction going on at Lekki.
I asked if she would like to return to her village, but sarcastically, she laughed. It was a dry, and very pregnant laughter, that deeply sounded something more like, “what do I go back to do?” Yes, she has no house and you know, of course, the psychological side of it! Once a person comes to Lagos, the expectation is that such persons should return “home” richer, contented, a person that can now be looked up to, with loud expectations like, ‘so what have you brought back for us form Lagos?’ This huge expectations from the folks at home and the very many dependants of course, is what scares many from wanting to leave Lagos back to base. Many can’t stand the shame of “returning empty-handed,” and so would rather stay “put” and continue to suffer.
But if the truth must continue to be told, I think what Lagos State government should want to see happen is that other states take their social responsibility more seriously in terms of housing, infrastructure, job creation, etc. Lagos State for instance has employed more people to sweep the roads, to keep vigilance among others. This, regrettably, is not happening in many other states; and as long as those problems exist, so long will Lagos remain the honey pot that is attracted to by more and more pests.
Honestly, I insist there has be a kind of diplomatic relationship and synergy among all the states in the country. Maybe when next governors hold their meetings, pray they discuss these issues. Without sentiments and any sense of arrogance, me think Fashola as Lagos governor, should be able to meet with say Alao-Akala of Oyo State and stress it to him that ‘your people are worrying me in Lagos, so what are you doing about this?’ Yes, Akala may truly get angry and perhaps to further compound matters, all the more because they are in different political camps, but there has to be a way out of this! As long as we continue to see it as delicate issue that is difficult to surmount, so would the problem persist.
