₦airaland Forum

About 12, 15 years ago, when the issue of who
is really a Lagosian was nothing more than a
stimulating debate among friends, I had asked a
friend to write an article on it for me. His was
one of the more passionate voices when the
issue was discussed at Ikoyi Club amidst banter
and drinks then. He had every reason to be
passionate. He was born and bred in Isale Eko,
the ‘cradle’ of Lagos of Edo father and Yoruba
mothe


He bears his Yoruba name and his spoken
Yoruba is rich and often laced with proverbs and
idioms. He is also now a Chief in one of the
suburbs in Lagos. Surely he qualifies to be
called a Lagosian. Unfortunately, his surname
gives him away. Another friend who was also
born and bred in Isale Eko goes to the Campos
area every fortnight to ‘feel the earth’ and
identify with his roots.


He proudly bears his Yoruba name but there is
nothing he can do about his surname. Does that
make him less of a Lagosian? Another, a
colleague in my days at the Vanguard is an Ijaw
from Bayelsa, but was born and bred in Lagos,
and attended one of the popular secondary
schools in Lagos. Even when he ventured out, it
was to the University of Ife and it was to Lagos
he came during breaks and holidays. He says
proudly ‘omo Eko l’awa’. (We are Lagosians)
despite his names which scream Ijaw. Is he in
denial?



Now, let me come home. My brother’s wife is
from Akwa Ibom but was born and bred in
Lagos and has a Yoruba middle name. Her
Yoruba is more fluent than her Efik. My wife is
Edo but born in Lafiaji in the heart of Lagos
Island. She even has a Yoruba ‘oriki’ which she
uses from time to time when she wants to
praise herself. She has lived in Lagos all her life.
Yet anybody who comes from a Yoruba
hinterland in say 20 years ago, would feel more
entitled and demand more ‘ownership’ than
these people.


When I, an ‘ara oke’, (upland country man) came
to Lagos some 50 years ago, it was to a small
city. Surulere, the middle class suburb, was
walkable. The Island was also walkable and the
only bridge that linked the two was Carter
Bridge.


I have since watched this city develop in leaps
and bounds into a mega city. I feel I am part of...

CONTINUE HERE :
www.beriahng.com/2015/04/who-is-lagosian-by-muyiwa-adetiba.html

:-Xi smell trouble

During campaign, its usually like:
Gbogbo wa la l'eko,
Ajo ma je igbadun,
Gbogbo wa la l'eko ooo

Being interpreted as:
We all own Lagos
And we shall enjoy it together
We all own Lagos ooo

But after campaign:
The refugee strangers must respect their host, do their wish(vote their candidate) and be grateful for the peace the all enjoy together or end up in the lagoon.


What a people!

A lagosian is anybody dat lives in lagos... Final

CountDracula:
A lagosian is anybody dat lives in lagos... Final

tell that to Oba Lil Wayne Zulu Akiolu of Lagos and end up in the lagoon

Trailblazer1:
tell that to Oba Lil Wayne Zulu Akiolu of Lagos and end up in the lagoon

The Obaa can come and svck my diick

Lagos has been a seperate region from the South West from time immemorial.
The colonialists recognised it is distinct from yorubaland and made it a colony seperate from southwest.
Nigeria recognising this fact, also made it a capital before independence.
It is only in southwest geographically and not yorubaland.
This fact has also been stated by the awori indegenes in the national conference who asked not to be joined with southwest and called on yorubas to leave their homeland. Why do yorubas claim ownership of lagos?