OGA NO BE YOU BUILD LAGOS

It is an insult to the sensibilities of those of us born, weaned and fully bred in Lagos, Nigeria, to hear from some people that Tinubu built Lagos.

Abeg no be the Lagos wey dem born me, wey I grow, go primary school, secondary school and live well. Every nook and cranny of Lagos is known to a thoroughbred of Lagos.

To those who do not know, Lagos was built by the British colonial govt, handed over to the federal government in 1960 and the federal govt left it in 1992. However, FG-owned infrastructure still abound in Lagos, still owned by the FG.

Others who built Lagos were private investors from every geopolitical zone in Nigeria. The only democratically elected governor who added (infrastructural) value to Lagos was Lateef Kayode Jakande.

The history of Lagos development began with returnee freed slaves from Brazil and other British commonwealth countries in the wake of the abolition of slavery in the mid 1800s.

Gradually, Lagos became urbanized by the joint efforts of skilled returnees, businessmen and women, the colonial authorities, the newly independent federal government of Nigeria in the 1960s, the military government of General Yakubu Gowon and subsequent governments until date.

Lagos Infrastructure is so mostly federally built and owned, that the revenue outflows benefit Lagos and Ogun States in IGRs more than most states in Nigeria. That's on available records.

The picture collage of this post is Lagos in the late 50s, early 60s and the 1970s. Tinubu was in primary school and secondary school by then.

The iconic Third Mainland bridge was commissioned by IBB. The 2nd Mainland bridge also known as Eko Bridge was built by the independent Nigerian government while Carter Bridge was built by the colonial authorities.

Agege Motor Road, Ikorodu Road, Lagos Ibadan expressway, Broad Street, Marina, Oworonsoki Expressway, Oshodi-Apapa expressway, Western Avenue, National Stadium Surulere, Race Course (a.k.a. Tafawa Balewa Square), Tinubu Square (has nothing to do with BAT and was built when he was a toddler), Apapa Wharf, Snake Island, Tin Can Island ports, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos Domestic Airport, Obafemi Awolowo way, Falomo, VI, ikoyi etc were all built NOT BY Tinubu but by various federal governments and some by colonial authorities or governments.

National Theatre was built by OBJ. Same period he built FESTAC TOWN, and FESTAC HOTEL (later renamed DURBAR hotel).

Every notable Infrastructure in Lagos was built by the colonial authorities, the successive federal governments and private investors. Tinubu's contribution to Lagos State is too miniscule to brag about.

Only Alhaji Lateef Jakande as civilian governor can beat his chest to boast about contributing to the development of Lagos.

Others are Military governors who were appendages of the Military heads of state.

I challenge anybody flaunting such falsehood to name and date such infrastructure.

Abeg make Una dey lie small small

Louder! I was saying the same thing to a friend today o

How can someone from Iragbiji be claiming ownership of Lagos? No be winch be dat?

Marwa, a fulani man did more for Lagos more than Tinupoo. Marwa set standards in providing security and infastructure during his days. Keke Marwa is named after him because he was the first executive to introduce that to Nigeria in Lagos.
Babangida and Raji Rasaki reorganized Maroko them. Gowon and Babangida built the bridges and flyovers. Tinupoo only came to steal everything in sight.

The only thing Tinupoo did for Lagos was to heighten the tax burden of small businesses in Lagos in other to balloon the state purse after Obasanjo stopped his monthly federal allocations. Most of these accruing revenue are being stolen. To start with, tax and spend is not rocket science. It's one of the easiest alternatives in the hands of a conscienceless political elite desperate to add to the burden of the struggling masses for personal gains.