OVER 2,000 displaced residents of Makoko Water Front in Iwaya, Yaba Council Development Area yesterday besieged the Alausa office of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola to register their frustration and continued suffering following the demolition of their shanties by the government last Monday.

The residents, most of whom were elderly women, children, youths and children arrived at about 11.00 a.m. and sat down on the entrance and exit lanes of the office awaiting the governor.

Led by the Baale of the Makoko, Yusuf Jejelaye and lawyer of the community, Felix Mouka, some of the residents who carried placards lamented their fate since their eviction from where they have called home since birth.

They sat on the bare floor until about 12:30 p.m. when security officials allowed them entrance into the office where they were later received by Fashola and some members of the state Executive Council.

Jejelaye said the residents voted for the governor in the last election because they believed in his integrity and the fact that he would always be there to fight for the right of the poor.

“We have been waiting to see your performance in our community when suddenly police took over our community, destroying property and shooting, in which my assistant Baale was killed.”

But Fashola said the government was not going back in its decision, saying: “You must look more to your government than to any other person. We act for the benefit of the community. Some people are benefitting from your difficulty, in the guise of being your friends, forming all sorts of lies, purporting to help you, but it never gets to you.”

Fashola also said the decision to eject them was to save the Lagoon from further shrinking, noting that the continuous expansion of the structures on the water body puts it in grave danger.

“Yes you mentioned indigenous people, but there are foreigners there too, from Cameroun, Benin Republic and Togo who have no papers, illegal immigrants.”

Fashola, however, said he will look into the killing of Timothy Huntoyanwha by a marine police corporal on Saturday, promising that the government will probe the incident.

But the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) implored Fashola to ensure that the evictees are properly accommodated and that the death of their ruler be investigated with culprits brought to book.

In a statement, the PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, deplored “the manner and timing of demolition,” which, it said, was more of destruction than correction.

“It lacked human feelings and indeed violation of human rights,” especially during a time of heavy rainfalls.

“The residents are now helpless with no alternative accommodation by the state government,” PDP added.

Okija_juju: ...Fashola should stand strong... If we are to move from this pit where we currently are as a Nation, sacrifices have to be made.. Alot of people may not like it, but it has to be done.. That Makoko Shanty town has no plce in the future that we are trying to build.. Should we continue to allow foolishness so that some people would be happy?!! GOD FORBID..

In all the other states where alot of shaties have been allowed to grow out of control, be prepared, because one day when the development gets to your area you would have to move.. Makoko is gone and gone for good.. The PDP should stop trying to score cheap political points with this Makoko issue.. If Fashola is to even consider any form of compensation, it would be at his own discretion and should be to only those people who can prove they are indeed indigenes/natives of Lagos state..

My heart goes out to all those who may have been displaced, but lets not forget that they were living in precarious conditions that could have led to serious health problems.. They were shitting directly into the water, had power lines criss crossing each other, the layout of the place was a fire harzard waiting to breakout.. I can almost swear it that 85% of the inhabitants of that shanty are from states like Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Anambra and co.. They are mostly those people who came to the city in search of greener pastures only to realize that the city can be a cruel place.. Let them all relocate back to their villages..

Next on the block would be Ajegunle...

Who here is old enough to remember the days of Maroko?!! When Raji Rasaki evicted the people of Maroko, thats how everybody screamed and yelled.. Well today, you will all agree that it was a brilliant idea afterall..



Like Maroko, Makoko has got to go... No mercy!!





P.S Notice the similarities between both incidences.. NAME: Maroko.. Makoko!! GOVERNORS WHO DEMOLISHED THEM: Raji Rasaki.. Raji Fashola.. lol

Billyonaire: The demolition was long overdue. Majority of the people living there are illegal immigrants who settle there to give birth to average of 5 each, I was shocked when CNN and Aljazera ran documentary and talk ill of Lagos, and those people clearly spoke Togo language. Illegal immigrants are humans but they have to go back, Ghana is insulting us, yet they are all over this country illegally.

dapo338: Fashola should have resettle them before destroying the place.

damola1: what provisions as the Lagos state govt. made to allow these people settle into our society. For the fact that there are people from togo or wherever staying there does not justify destruction of people's roof over their head. Camerounians are all over lagos, not just in makoko. I think the Govt. is acting like our useless president. Increasing fuel prices without making provisions for proper infrastructure and people continue to faroukise us. They should be well resettled before taking away where they lives. Will fashola have accepted the treatment of his family and friends if they lived there without proper resettlement plans?

damola1: I saw that documentary on CNN. illegal immigrants are everywhere, not just in makoko, makoko is not a boarder control site, let immigration do their job! Be aware that for the fact that a Nigerian lives there justifies him every right to basic things of life and not be treated like an animal. Will you destroy the house of your dog and allow him stay in the rain, or will you first build him a new one before destroying the old one?

life_style: Enemy of progress

Kay-Dee:



[size=13pt] I understand they were given enough time to find an alternative and move out and I don't know if the government is supposed to pay you compensation for trying to fix something wrong you have done. Those shanties are more or less illegal structures destabilizing the drainage of the state. It's not just about Camerounians or other illegal immigrants living there, i'm sure there are more Nigerians than foreigners residing in those shanties. On whether Fash wld have accepted the treatment if his friend's were involved ? remember J.K Randle go the same treatment and Fashola told him to go and do the right thing. [/size]

Kay-Dee:



[size=13pt] I understand they were given enough time to find an alternative and move out and I don't know if the government is supposed to pay you compensation for[b] trying to fix something wrong you have done[/b]. Those shanties are more or less illegal structures destabilizing the drainage of the state. It's not just about Camerounians or other illegal immigrants living there, i'm sure there are more Nigerians than foreigners residing in those shanties. On whether Fash wld have accepted the treatment if his friend's were involved ? remember J.K Randle got the same treatment and Fashola told him to go do the right thing. [/size]

Yomieluv: The eviction is long ovadue.the people live in pathetic conditions devoids ofany comfortability.they live in deplorable conditions-no drainage,lack of basic necessities.despite the fact that i feel for them,we've to do the right first.to achieve development,some people must sacrifice.another place next is orile,and ajegunle..those places sucks.

omobabanani: Taofik Gani (PDP publicity sec) is only trying to woo people to their side knowing fully well that they have lost all integrity and popularity in the Southwest. Let him answer this question is the Federal Govt not destroying and demolishing houses in certain parts of Yanyan in Abuja in the name of road construction? It is unfortunate for this man that we Nigerians know better when they talk.

Billyonaire: 90% of them are illegal immigrants, please they should go back to their countries, we have problems of our own.

Billyonaire: 90% of them are illegal immigrants, please they should go back to their countries, we have problems of our own.

damola1:

You people talk like you drop from Heaven.