₦airaland Forum

”The claim that the Igbo helped to develop Lagos
is hogwash. The major institutions of the south-
west were developed by the diligence, hard-work,
industry and sweat of the Yoruba people. This is a
historical fact”- Femi Fani-Kayode
I posted these words on my Facebook wall as a
fallout of the hot debate that was generated after
the relocation from Lagos to Anambra of 19 Igbo
destitute by the Lagos State Government.
Immediately after the posting, all hell broke loose
on my wall and all sorts of excitable and emotion-
laden comments and assertions were made on
the thread. I welcomed each and every one of
those comments including those that accused me
of being a tribalist and a Yoruba nationalist. That
is the spirit of debate and we cannot all possibly
agree on everything. Needless to say I stand by
every word that I wrote in the post and those that
do not share my view are free to hold their own
opinion. My assertion is based on history and
knowledge and not emotion. The facts are clear
and the records speak for themselves. I will go no
further than that because it is about time that
Nigerians from the younger generation learnt to
do their own research and to study their own
history. I will not allow the mob mentality or the
wild emotions of others to becloud my thinking or
to intimidate me into distorting the truth.
The Igbo had little to do with the extraordinary
development of Lagos between 1880 right up
until today. That is a fact. Other than Ajegunle,
Computer Town, Alaba and buying up numerous
market stalls in Isale Eko, where is their input?
Meanwhile the Yoruba of the old Western Region
and Lagos were very gracious to them and not
only allowed them to return after the civil war to
claim their properties and jobs but also welcomed
them with open arms and allowed them to
flourish in our land. This is something that they
have never done for our people in the east. Such
gestures of love and fraternity were never
reciprocated. Now some of them have the
effrontery to call Lagos, which is our land and the
land of our forefathers (I am half Lagosian), ”no-
man’s land” and others have the nerve to assert
that up to 50 per cent of the development in
Lagos came as a consequence of the input of the
Igbo. This is utter rubbish.
Those that do not know any better ought to go
and learn rather than vent their hostilities and
ignorance against me here or on my Facebook
wall. I am not a tribalist but a great believer in
Nigeria and more importantly, I am a historian
and a student of history. I will not distort the facts
of history just to keep some people happy. The
history of the Yoruba, and of Lagos particularly, is
very well known to me. And the fact that
Lagosians and the Yoruba people generally are so
generous and accommodating in their ways and
to non-indigenes that settle in their territory
should not be mistaken for ignorance, stupidity or
weakness. We know our history, we know who we
are, we know who and what developed our land
and made it into what it is and we urge those
that yearn to be like us to go and emulate our
efforts and attitude to non-indigenes and hard
work in their own states of origin.
I have nothing against my fellow Nigerians from
other parts of the country and I have proved over
and over again that I love Nigeria and that I am a
Nigerian before anything else. However if, in the
twisted imagination of some, speaking the truth
about the history and development of Lagos and
the Western Region makes me a tribalist, then
tribalist I am. Servants of truth do not fear such
labels and are often hated and misunderstood. If I
were worried about what others thought of me I
would have stopped writing long ago.
Meanwhile, permit me to recommend to all and
sundry the following words of an insightful
Nigerian by name Sina Fagbenro-Byron. He has
had the courage to analyse the matter in a very
honest, clear and forthright manner and he has
spoken the truth. Let us hope that those that
have no knowledge of that truth are humble
enough to learn from it. He wrote-

.

igbos i think the faster we come back to develop our home land the faster all this insult will stop

mrvitalis:
igbos i think the faster we come back to develop our home land the faster all this insult will stop

That's the only way brother,. Enough of this Lagos nonsense..

No tribe can singlehandedly claim the credit for the development of Lagos. Lagos is what it is today because of diversity and good leadership. There is beauty in diversity.
I strongly believe all tribes contribute to the development of Lagos. But if ibos should leave Lagos today, I can assure you they will not be missed and Lagos will experience a new breath of fresh air.

For your mind. Pray for one nigeria because a reality scenerio would most likely be

Nigeria breaks up, yoruba try to bully igbos and make a woeful mistake of killing igbos say 30 in a day or a week or a month or whatever. Igbos retaliate and the rest is history. All out skimish. Am not factoring in wrong identity that is sure to happen eg ijaws, calabars, akwa iboms, benue, etc. Anyway, due to the fighting, other yorubas say 2million from other states come in to help as per say containment tins; Then, igbos from the east sneak up on them, cleaning up ondo, osun, thus making many of those mercinaries run back; Meanwhile igbos in lagos are destroying everything in sight (so no free house). Blood every where on both sides. Igbos create a buffer zone from ondo bypassing Benin blitz tactics. By the time the smoke clears, lagos will be rag house. I pray not, but all these butterflies wan feel like helicopters.

I hope we unite honestly, equally, and fair. Either way am good. Igbo tribe runs in my veins.

As for your dishonest post, igbos of all strides are a huge fabric of Lagos.

harde2lah:
No tribe can singlehandedly claim the credit for the development of Lagos. Lagos is what it is today because of diversity and good leadership. There is beauty in diversity.
I strongly believe all tribes contribute to the development of Lagos. But if ibos should leave Lagos today, I can assure you they will not be missed and Lagos will experience a new breath of fresh air.

lool, what a dunce, keep compensating yourself •

zlatansomto:
lool, what a dunce, keep compensating yourself •

Prove me wrong by leaving nah. fool

harde2lah:
Prove me wrong by leaving nah. fool

Prove me wrong by chasing us out nah,. Ediott !!

zlatansomto:
Prove me wrong by chasing us out nah,. Ediott !!

I can see you have comprehension problem. if not you wouldn't have misquoted me. Fool, who is chasing you out of Lagos? Typical of flat heads and chest beaters who thinks everybody hates them. Life is to short for the Yorubas to be hating. You're the least of our problems. We mind our own business and don't give a s h.I.t about your existence. Fooool, now run along.

dont lie tell the truth.......... The revenue international trade fair complex alone generate for lagos state can tell that ur lying .......... Not to talk OF ALABA Market and others. yoruba people are known to be educated to own an oil company while igbos are known to do biz, so tell me.......... So compare the revenue OF oil company and markets and tell me who is doing Good for ur land ??not to talk OF the ones we are paying to ur jobless Aboro..

So dude think befor u talk .......... We are interesting big in lagos states even oga fashola Can see the work at lakki

mrvitalis:
igbos i think the faster we come back to develop our home land the faster all this insult will stop

Are you still thinking about it? Better starting doing it. You can start by getting your plot of land, and starting your building project; either for residential or commercial activity. My people say "you don't tell the man who ate pepper to drink water", it should come naturally.

@Op God bless u sir!

Its d same thin I've bn saying bt instead for dem to address issues they preferred to attack u rather. If they hv bn doing same in their region to other non indigenes living in d east mayb or perhaps nobody will worry more, bt they dnt allow it, they molest, maltreat n turn pple to second class citizens in their own place bt they want to become king where their culture n customs ar alien to such locality simply coz they ar accommodated n treated as equal.

Anyway, for those who care to hear, I had sound my warnin clear abt tinkin lagos can become another kwara isn't true. Igbo shld b careful!

ghost1718:
dont lie tell the truth.......... The revenue international trade fair complex alone generate for lagos state can tell that ur lying .......... Not to talk OF ALABA Market and others. yoruba people are known to be educated to own an oil company while igbos are known to do biz, so tell me.......... So compare the revenue OF oil company and markets and tell me who is doing Good for ur land ??not to talk OF the ones we are paying to ur jobless Aboro..

So dude think befor u talk .......... We are interesting big in lagos states even oga fashola Can see the work at lakki

Consider investing a huge chunk of that revenue to improving Alaigbo, that's what we should be saying. Let's stop bragging of how much we make in Lagos, but rather how much of these money is invested back home.

harde2lah:
I can see you have comprehension problem. if not you wouldn't have misquoted me. Fool, who is chasing you out of Lagos? Typical of flat heads and chest beaters who thinks everybody hates them. Life is to short for the Yorubas to be hating. You're the least of our problems. We mind our own business and don't give a s h.I.t about your existence. Fooool, now run along.

typical of the yo-robbers,. Resorting to name calling, just to make a silly point,. Now back to topic, Lagos is no mans land nobody can chase me out,. Its that simple my clawed faced friend,. You can take that to the bank •

PointB:
Consider investing a huge chunk of that revenue to improving Alaigbo, that's what we should be saying. Let's stop bragging of how much we make in Lagos, but rather how much of these money is invested back home.

yeah dude ur right

but somebody got to tell that boy the truth even the Abokis are even contributing more than yorubas self GO to alaba alagor and see for urself

Firstly, define DEVELOPMENT and tell me where there's any sign of development in Lagos. Lagos is " developed " in the eyes of Ibadan, Ondo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Benue, RURAL DWELLERS that just came to Lagos. The Federal Govt of Nigeria, built most bridges and fed roads that made Lagos to be considered "developed. Lagos is in the league of Bangladesh, and all those dirty lack of infrastructure ridden countries in India and Asia.

Dubai, used their oil wealth to build what you will consider development, that's why even hustlers in lagos rush to dubai to see what SPEED LIGHT RAIL and development feels like. Your " celebs" and politicians and anyone else that can afford ( BUT CAN"T GET USA visa) it heads to dubai.

In the eyes of DEBASED, COUNTRY and POORLY oriented fellow, Lagos is developed.

Igbo this, Igbo that... What's going on?

zlatansomto:
typical of the yo-robbers,. Resorting to name calling, just to make a silly point,. Now back to topic, Lagos is no mans land nobody can chase me out,. Its that simple my clawed faced friend,. You can take that to the bank •

Nobody forced ur grandfathers out wen they abandoned their businesses in 1967..I thot they shld av stayed since lagos is no man's land. U're psychologically wrongly wired n u need to rewire ur psych..bast**ds

One Nigeria is all what I understand, that's why a yoruba man like me supporting GEJ from Niger Delta. United will stand, divided will fall...

zlatansomto:
typical of the yo-robbers,. Resorting to name calling, just to make a silly point,. Now back to topic, Lagos is no mans land nobody can chase me out,. Its that simple my clawed faced friend,. You can take that to the bank •

The same taught the 19 people that were deported to Anambra heard

jayonpoint:
@Op God bless u sir!

Its d same thin I've bn saying bt instead for dem to address issues they preferred to attack u rather. If they hv bn doing same in their region to other non indigenes living in d east mayb or perhaps nobody will worry more, bt they dnt allow it, they molest, maltreat n turn pple to second class citizens in their own place bt they want to become king where their culture n customs ar alien to such locality simply coz they ar accommodated n treated as equal.

Anyway, for those who care to hear, I had sound my warnin clear abt tinkin lagos can become another kwara isn't true. Igbo shld b careful!

so we shud allow yorubas to com and start what their ar mostly known for ??(Aboro Work)AS much as i can see no other work they can do in our land E.g can they trade ?? Apart from schooling Or what??

temitemi1:
One Nigeria is all what I understand, that's why a yoruba man like me supporting GEJ from Niger Delta. United will stand, divided will fall...

But there is a yoruba proverb which says land cannot belong to 2 siblings without have boundary

SeverusSnape:
Igbo this, Igbo that... What's going on?

Wats goin on, is u dnt mouth more than u can chew..the last tym I checked; igbo traders in Ghana out numbered ghanians n I dnt knw why they av nt seek or demand for political relevance..useless pple

TRUTHTELA:
Firstly, define DEVELOPMENT and tell me where there's any sign of development in Lagos. Lagos is " developed " in the eyes of Ibadan, Ondo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Benue, RURAL DWELLERS that just came to Lagos. The Federal Govt of Nigeria, built most bridges and fed roads that made Lagos to be considered "developed. Lagos is in the league of Bangladesh, and all those dirty lack of infrastructure ridden countries in India and Asia.

Dubai, used their oil wealth to build what you will consider development, that's why even hustlers in lagos rush to dubai to see what SPEED LIGHT RAIL and development feels like. Your " celebs" and politicians and anyone else that can afford ( BUT CAN"T GET USA visa) it heads to dubai.

In the eyes of DEBASED, COUNTRY and POORLY oriented fellow, Lagos is developed.

My brother you don't have a point

ghost1718:
yeah dude ur right

but somebody got to tell that boy the truth even the Abokis are even contributing more than yorubas self GO to alaba alagor and see for urself

Perhaps it's the truth, but this truth appears of no consequence. If there is crisis in Nigeria today, and we all had to go back to our 'village', will we all have a place to sleep and food to eat, for how long? That's the question our people doing business outside Alaigbo should be answering. Not how much money they are making. Forward thinking...

mrvitalis:
igbos i think the faster we come back to develop our home land the faster all this insult will stop

u guys r d best... tho am Yoruba... buh I like ur thinking abeg

zlatansomto:
typical of the yo-robbers,. Resorting to name calling, just to make a silly point,. Now back to topic, Lagos is no mans land nobody can chase me out,. Its that simple my clawed faced friend,. You can take that to the bank •

dude ur wrong to say that lagos is no mans land.......... It belong to yorubas no other tribe owns it so dont cause misunderstanding here pls i am igbo man but i dont support that

zlatansomto:
typical of the yo-robbers,. Resorting to name calling, just to make a silly point,. Now back to topic, Lagos is no mans land nobody can chase me out,. Its that simple my clawed faced friend,. You can take that to the bank •

You don't know what you're saying. When you point one finger, there are three fingers pointing back to you. Who resorted to name calling first? My post was devoid of any name calling and you had to call your father a dunce. Look, don't think you can just come online and exercise cyberbullying and expect to receive a pat on the back. When cruel accusations fly, all you need is to hear the voice of reason that says, "Look in the mirror, brother. You might just be talking about yourself.
And for the record, I don't give a fvck about you calling Lagos a no man's land. You can call it whatever you want to if it gives you hard on. I don't know how that affects me or credit my account. Abeg swerve

You guys are just feeling like, if you think you are the the one developing Lagos, then leave Lagos and go and develop your state and stop behaving like Bastard fool.
some of you don't even recognise your family house on the village, yet you are bragging here as if it your father land. go and settle in ur village and let us have peace, since your village witch can not allow you stay home and you are using Lagos for cover up,. during my service year that I relate with Igbo people I come to realise that small thing always amazes you people (omo oju o rola ri)
I never see Yoruba man claiming Igbo land, when he is not a bastard

ghost1718:
dude ur wrong to say that lagos is no mans land.......... It belong to yorubas no other tribe owns it so dont cause misunderstanding here pls i am igbo man but i dont support that

some of your people need to be educated and learn to know what belongs to them. let them go and develop their state