In the past two weeks, a lot has been said and written about the “deportation” of beggars and the destitute from Lagos State. Even when it was revealed that some states of the Federation, in the past, have carried out similar actions, and that Rivers State recently has done so, the action of the Lagos State Government (LSG) remains the main focus of discussion.

Governor Peter Obi started the controversy when he wrote a well publicized letter to the President of Nigeria wherein he complained about what he called the illegal and unconstitutional act of the LSG in “deporting” indigenes of Anambra State and non-indigenes of Igbo extraction from Lagos. to Onitsha.

The LSG angrily reacted to the allegation by explaining that it was carrying out a “rehabilitation and resettlement programme” for beggars and destitute in Lagos State under which these beggars and destitute are taken to their respective states of origin and re-united with their kith and kin. Neither Anambra State nor Igbos in Lagos are discriminatorily targeted, the LSG clarified, even as the LSG accused the. Anambra State Government of politicizing the. issue to secure political advantage in the upcoming local governments and gubernatorial elections in the State. Since then, the debate over the action of the LSG has become very divisive and conducted, largely and sadly, along ethnic lines. An issue that ought to be looked at from the legal, social, economic and political standpoints, is now.corroded by ethnic colouration and interpretations..We have been.told that ” Lagos is a no man’s.land” that has.been developed by the commerce and taxes of non-indigenes from other States of the Federation, who are entitled to work and live in Lagos State without forcible removal.

We have also been told by some political historians why Lagos State should not be labeled.a “no man’s land”, and how Lagos State, largely, has been developed by the indigenes in particular and the Yorubas in general.

In this intervention, l offer a legal perspective on the alleged deportation. l do so because we
have been provoked by commentators who doubt the correctness of our legal viewpoint on this subject. Owing to space constraint, l shall not discuss the social implications, the economics and the politics of the alleged deportation by the LSG..I shall argue that the Lagos State Government, LSG, has not violated any known law or any provision of the. Constitution in removing beggars and destitute from the State, and resettling them in their respective states of origin.

Earlier, when the controversy started, l had granted press interviews, stating without much detail, that the action of the LSG is legal. In this piece, l shall flesh up my earlier interventions. And this l intend to do in spite of the fact that.the LSG, in our view, has not offered a coherent and reasoned legal argument to justify its actions. Thus far, the thrust of the argument of the LSG is that her policy to rid the State of beggars and. destitute is not new and discriminatory, and has. been implemented with consultation with the receiving states, as being alleged. Before delving into the legal arguments, let us address two issues that have shaped this debate. The first issue is the inappropriateness of the word. “deportation” in describing the action of the LSG. “Deportation” in the context in which the word. has been used is a malapropism. The Chambers Dictionary, 2003 Edition, at page 435 defines 'deport’ as ” to transport, to exile; to expel (eg. as. an undesirable alien or foreigner). Our view is that the affected persons are not transported out of Lagos State and sent into exile by expulsion, as a Country would do to illegal aliens or foreigners.

The second issue is the habit, in public discourse, to hastily condemn the action of government. It is common to see publicists take populist positions in support of the “poor, the homeless, the masses, the unemployed and labour”, and against “the government, the establishment, the rich, the powerful and the elite”, in the belief that by so doing we are fighting for and, thereby, getting closer, to a more just, equitable and egalitarian society.

http://premiumtimesng.com/opinion/142709-relocation-of-destitute-out-of-lagos-is-legal-and-constitutional-by-jiti-ogunye.html

Are these people just waken up? I meant Femi fani kayode and this man

the days of embrace of igbos in yorubaland is over!The original sin is the lie peddled against awo and the yorubas by the late biafrian minister of information,chinua achebe

You are a fool. You did not say much when you were granted interview becos you have nothing in this your big head,only for you to come back after 2weeks to download Chambers dictionary on NL when your mates have theirs 24/7. Anyway that topic has been resolved by Femi Kayode,so meet him for update.

South easterns fail to realise that most media houses are control by yorubas hence they feel to bombard them both written and electronically.

Ayekotoo: South easterns fail to realise that most media houses are control by yorubas hence they feel to bombard them both written and electronically.

So after doing that what happens? By the way do you mind naming the top ten media outlet owned by yorubas let us see

chukwudi44:

So after doing that what happens? By the way do you mind naming the top ten media outlet owned by yorubas let us see

100 likes

All these animals "education" is just a wasted one.Resettling destitutes with their kith and kins means dumping vulnerable people dangerously in the open at the wee hours of the morning.I wonder how he is going to reconcile that in any court of law?He must be quoting from a primitive law that that yorubas like him still thrive on.

redsun: All these animals "education" is just a wasted one.Resettling destitutes with their kith and kins means dumping vulnerable people dangerously in the open at the wee hours of the morning.I wonder how he is going to reconcile that in any court of law?He must be quoting from a primitive law that that yorubas like him still thrive on.

. Olodo. You really cannot stop displaying your ediocy. Go back to your japan abi na by force.

seanet02: . Olodo. You really cannot stop displaying your ediocy. Go back to your japan abi na by force.

This fvcking cave man.Your redemption is in the grave.

redsun:

This fvcking cave man.Your redemption is in the grave.

your self induced arrogancy and stvpidity have backfired. go and jump in the ezzu river. operation fumigate ibos out of lagos continue

seanet02: your self induced arrogancy and stvpidity have backfired. go and jump in the ezzu river. operation fumigate ibos out of lagos continue

Animals like relies on primitive instincts and bravados to achive your sinister aims,forgetting that modern laws are main to govern/integrate people and lead them in the right direction unequivocally.

chukwudi44:

So after doing that what happens? By the way do you mind naming the top ten media outlet owned by yorubas let us see

I don't have time for you if you can't see.

Very vacuous argument by an evidently unintelligent lawyer. Makes you feel immense pity for his clients, if he has ever had any.

I have read similar articles to this from Premium Times. Premium Times is a shamelessly sectional and narrow minded medium. The clown that wrote this article really scrapped the barrel to look for a means to defend Lagos state like looking for loopholes in the law. He quotes the part of the Constitution that says that you cannot expell citizens and says something like "well Lagos expelled people from Lagos state, not from Nigeria, therefore Lagos did not flout this rule". It goes to show you that it does not matter how good the laws are, if the people implementing the law are useless, the law would be useless.