FIVE DOCUMENTS YOUR PROPERTY MUST HAVE

Ownership of real property is to be supported by documentary evidence. There are five documents every property must have. If you do not have any of them, there is a need to discuss with a real estate consultant at your earliest convenience. They are:

*1. Purchase receipt:* A purchase receipt is a written acknowledgement of the recipient of payment for a property. It may be required as an evidence of ownership or acquisition of property in certain circumstances.

*2. A registered Survey Plan:* A survey plan is a diagram that describes the margin and precise dimension of a parcel of land. A surveyor is an expert who is concerned with the official assessment for evaluation and measurement of land. The survey is expected to be lodged (registered) at the Surveyor General’s office of the state in which the land is situated.

*3. Deed of Assignment:* A Deed of Assignment is a document that shows the new legal owner of the property; i.e. the property has been transferred from the buyer to the seller. It is a contract from the seller to assign the property to the buyer.

*4. Certificate of Occupancy (C of O):* The C of O is a justifiable consent from the government that the property is in your possession. It is issued by the Governor of the state in which the property is situated.

*5. Approved Building Plan:* This is an endorsement to proceed with the construction or reconfiguration of a particular structure in a specific place, in accordance with the approved requirement. It is very essential that you ensure that the structure of the property corresponds with what is shown on the plans.

Prophet Alabi

*Mazi Abe Idris*
Prophet Alabi was the head of the Cherubim and Seraphim church on Aggrey road, in PortHarcourt, back in the 70’s.

My dad was then ‘remarried’ to a lady from Abonnema, of Kalabari extraction.

Auntie Briggs was a fervent and senior member of the church and went by the title of “Mother in Israel”

On Sundays, she wore her crown with the inscription “Mother in Israel” with such pride, you would think she was on her way to Heaven as she made her way majestically downstairs to the car and church.

She was rich in her own right, so I knew she was able to afford spraying herself with a whole bottle of Joy perfume every sunday.

She probably believed the Angels would come down and dance with her in church, attracted by the gallon of lavender oozing off her sutànä.

At least it worked with Prophet Alabi.

The man will gum to her large backside, singing and praising Jah Jehovah, as the church drummers beat the hell out of the leather drums, Prophet Alabi trembling and shivering to a crescendo and climax screaming “Jehovah Emmanuellllllllllllll!!”

Auntie Briggs, half bent over, her wide ikebe stuck out in spiritual abandonment to the Gods and Prophet Alabi, eyes closed tight in supplication, will also tremble with passion.

I always suspected that they were cumming, but I jus minded my own business, me too looking out for any free shaking ikebe.

By that time, the whole church has gone wild in dancing and singing.

Me too, I will find any shaking Ikebe and glue my boner to it, shouting “Jehovah!”  as I give my stiffy to Jesu Christi and the soft valley shaking in front of me.

Oh, I loved Cherubim and Seraphim in those days, especially when it was dancing time.

“Let us pray” Prophet Alabi will finally manage to extract himself from behind Auntie’s big thing, using the big Bible in his hand to cover his raging hard on.

My Dad never really bothered to go with us to church, but I used to wonder if he ever knew the method of praise worship at his wife’s church.

He knew Prophet Alabi fairly well, as the man always stopped by every Sunday for a ride to Church.

“Aaaa! Alhaji, èkarò sir.  Are you going to honour us and come to church today, sir?”

Popsy will jus smile and offer him a drink.

He knew the man was a fraud, but if it meant his wife spending the whole Sunday away from the house with her nagging, then Pastor Alabi was welcome to climax on her ikebe. As long as he was left in peace to watch his favourite James Bond movies.

The Sunday ritual was always the same:

Prophet Alabi and his short Rasta hair will roll into the sitting room at exactly 9:05 am.

The Sunday Sunday jollof rice is always ready by 9: 10am.

The Prophets timing had become so legendary that the front door is already open, awaiting the arrival of Prophet Alabi.

After pleasantries:

“Abe!!!”

“Yes Daddy?”

“Get Prophet a Guinness from the fridge”

“Yes daddy”

“Aaaah! this one is too big o, Alhaji. I can’t finish it sir. Do you haff small stout instead, sir?”

“Erm..... no small stout o, but I will help you drink some of it”

Gist about Govt and politics will go on as the big stout decreases, popsy winking at me in amusement as Prophet Alabi’s voice gets louder and more excited.

He has forgotten to share the big stout with popsy.

Then the jollof rice arrives and they relocate to the dining table.

“Abe!!”

“Yes daddy?”

I know the drill, so I don’t need any prompting, as I place the second big stout besides Prophet Alabi, as he begins to tackle the jollof and fried chicken.

No protest this time, as to whether it is big or small.

Jollof and Guinness continue to battle for space inside Prophet’s fat stomach.

At a point, his untidy dreadlocks seem to be getting longer, but maybe it’s my imagination sha.

Finally: “Aaaah! look at the time. It’s almost 10 o’clock ké! Time for church”

Prophet lumbers to his feet, swaying a bit, but steadies himself.

Popsy smiles, a slight shake of his head as he shepherds the obviously tipsy Prophet toward the door.

Mother in Israel is not far behind them, giving her hubby a quick kiss, shuffling after Prophet Alabi on their way to another kokoma dance.

“Are you going with them?” Popsy will raise his eyebrows in surprise, knowing I don’t like the whole church charade.

But ever since I discovered the “one corner” dancing in her church, I had become a Cherubim and Seraphim covert, looking forward to glue on to available soft mountains during offering time.

“Yesh daddy, ayam going with them....”

To Be Continued

🚶🏽‍♂️🚶🏽‍♂️🚶🏽‍♂️🚶🏽‍♂️🚶🏽‍♂️

©️ Mazi Abe Media 2019

Who Are The Igbomina??

Igbomina is among the main clans of Yorubaland. The Igbomina people are in the north-eastern part of Yorubaland and are reported to be more than one million. About 90percent of these native Yoruba people live in the present day Isin, Irepodun and Ifelodun local government parts of Kwara State, while the remaining occupy Ora and Ila - Orangun areas of Osun State.

Igbomina people were said to have migrated to the present place of settlement from various locations and at different times between the 14th and 17th centuries A.D (Dada, 1985:1) Majority of Igbomina clans claimed to have migrated to the area of present habitation from either Ile-Ife or Oyo, the two main nuclei of Yoruba. The progenitor of the Igbomina was a prince of Oduduwa (Johnson, 1921). According Yoruba-Igbomina tradition the area now called Igbomina was given to and founded by Orangun of Ila as his own share of inheritance from his grandfather, Ododuwa, the purported progenitor of the Yoruba race (Ibiloye, 1994: 33). According to this tradition, Orangun was the second son (and the fourth child) of Okanbi, the only son of Oduduwa. He founded Igbomina through the use of Ogbo. It was this Ogbo that was supposed to know the way to the bank of River Niger, the ultimate destination of this itinerant way-farer; hence the name Ogbomona (that is, Ogbo knows the way) literary translated (corrupted over a time) to Igbomina with the passage of time (Ibiloye, 1994: 33).

Apart from those found in Ila area, Igbominaland is more precisely aligned into sixteen administrative parts in Kwara State. The areas are Sare, Oke-Ode, Igbaja, Ajase, Omu-Aran, others are; Omupo, Isin, Oro, Ora, , Oko, Ola, Esie, Oro-Ago, Ile-Ire, Idofian and Idofin.

We have got known compartments of Igbomina towns and villages in few other locals of Kwara State including Apado in Iponrin area, Jeba in Lanwa district, Apa-Ole, Joromu, Fufu etc., in Akanbi district and Ogbondoroko in Afon area.

The Igbominas are often grouped into two; the Igbomina Mosan and Igbomina Moye.

The Moye group includes Oke-Ode , Oro-Ago, Ora, Oko-Ola, Idofin and Agunjin districts.

Mosan group comprises areas such as Omu-Aran, Ajase, Igbaja, Isin, Oro, Share, Esie, Omupo, Idofian and Ila-Orangun.

The cord that firmly holds the Igbomina clan together exhibits in their inseparable dialect, origins, values, culture, institutions and history.

All across Igbominaland, the habit of eating Ewu-iyan and Ikasin oka or oka alagbona, isn't unfamiliar. These foods are a remake of the overnight leftovers of amala and iyan, a delicacy that adds refreshingly new flavours of delicious tastes and aromas to the meals.

The “new” taste is highly cherished in especially Omu-Aran that its inhabitants have this refrain " ewu iyan d'omu o dotun" , meaning the re-make is no way inferior to the fresh one.

The Igbomina dialect is generally similar, however, there are slight to significant variations as one moves from one part to another within the land.

The Igbominas have overtime enjoyed Egungun Elewe, Layewu and Epa festivals.

Primitively, their occupations were generally hunting and farming just like the rest of the olden day Yoruba nation.

Some decades ago, they were known to settle for secondary school education, where they often continued into trading and or apprenticeship which they relied upon as means of livelihood

Modern day Igbomina thrive in trading still, they seem to be at the way top of wealth distribution in Yorubaland and Nigeria going by their renowned traits. They are industrious, selfless, full of agility and are often driven by willingness to succeed. An average Igbomina is second to none in entrepreneurship and small scale businesses. They start small (Kiosk stalls) and end big. Having said that, they are also now known to be university graduates and even professors. There are uncountable Igbomina who are medical doctors, lawyers, engineers and so forth They are found in all aspects of Nigerian economy, including banking and finance, industry and commerce, shipping and freighting, transportation, international trade, management and in government administrations.

By: Bola Olalekan

17-year-old Boy Breaks Record, Set To Marry His 15-year-old Fiancée In Sokoto.🤔🤔

A 17-year-old boy identified as Aliyu and his 15-year-old fiancée, Aisha, have released their prewedding pictures ahead of their wedding, next week, in Sokoto.

According to inside reports, Aliyu is following his family tradition of marrying early. .

It’s gathered that male children of his family marry at the age of 17, while the female ones marry at 15. .

However, in extreme cases, they marry at the age of 19. The tradition was embraced by the family  to prevent them from fornicating and also to allow them see their grandchildren.

Congratulations to this young couple🙆🙆

UTAH LEGALIZES SEX OUTSIDE MARRIAGE AFTER GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL ROLLING BACK 1973 ‘FORNICATION’ LAW

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has signed a bill that decriminalizes sex outside of marriage in the state.

Herbert signed Senate Bill 43 into law on Wednesday, the governor’s office confirmed to TIME.

“Fornication,” which is sex outside of marriage, was classified as a class B misdemeanor and punishable by up to six months in jail, according to a 1973 Utah state law.
The bill includes a repeal of the offense of fornication and was sponsored by state Senate Minority Leader Karen Mayne. The bill amends other terms in the criminal code legislation, including penalties and offenses related to clandestine drug labs, electronic communications harassment and the return of a marriage license to a county clerk.
Utah’s state legislature passed the bill earlier in March.

Herbert on Monday signed a separate bill that decriminalizes adultery and sodomy between consenting adults, which also constituted misdemeanor crimes.

Tinubu to FG: increased VAT will put pressure on Nigerians| TheNation

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has advised federal government to jettison the proposed increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT).

The proposal if implemented, he said, will put a further burden on the Nigerians, especially the masses.

Tinubu also warned Nigeria must begin to look inward and initiate people- friendly policies based on the looming global economic recession.

The former Lagos governor, who spoke at the 11th Bola Tinubu colloquium in Abuja, also asked the government to revisit privatisation of the power sector.

This, he said, is necessary if Nigeria hopes to fast track industrial development and job creation.

He also demanded an end to estimated billing in the country.

According to him: “I want to appeal to Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President and his team to put a huge question mark on any increase on VAT.

“If you reduce the purchasing power of the people, we can further slowdown the economy.

“Let us widen the tax net. Those who are not paying now, even if they are relatives of Bola Tinubu, let the net be bigger and we take in more taxes. That is what we must do in the country instead of another layer of taxes for now.”

On needs to industrialise the country, Tinubu said: “We require serious and bold reforms to achieve this. What is happening to our gas pipelines?

“Whatever we have to invest now for our future is a task that must be done boldly.
Read Also: Tinubu icon of Nigeria’s contemporary politics, says Lalong

“The PDP administration shared out generation, distribution and transmission to their friends and cronies without very deep and thoughtful research and evaluation.

“It has now become pork chops. This privatisation must be revisited. Put experts together for a more constructive reform to improve generation, transmission and distribution by any means necessary.

We cannot afford to be too legalistic about this.”

He went on: “We should push to end the practice of billing people for electricity they never received.

“This practice is a vestige of the past that should not accompany us into the future. A person should be charged accurately and only for the power that they use.

“Government should continue to aggressively implement its national infrastructure plan.

“We must commit ourselves to a national highway system linking our major cities and towns, our centres of commerce with each other. This will save lives, spur commerce, cut costs and bring Nigerians closer together.”

The co-Chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council stressed the next level slogan of the party during its campaign was not just a jargon that should be discarded after victory has been won.

He said: “The Next Level is not just a trendy campaign phrase to be quickly discarded once victory has been achieved.

“It has a much deeper and more profound meaning, perhaps even more than its authors contemplated.

“This is because we are a nation still in the process of defining itself politically and economically.

“In this process, it is tempting and easy to borrow indiscriminately from those nations that seem to have mastered the art of democratic governance and to have achieved economic prosperity.

“However, to achieve durable progress, we can’t afford to work hard but in mindless devotion to the ways of other nations.

“This truth is particularly acute when these very nations now face fundamental political and economic questions that cast doubt on the social utility and viability of the economic model under which they have travelled for the past 50 years.”

Bayelsa Tower Hotel

Adiaspride (@FishermanSoup) Tweeted: This is the Bayelsa Tower Hotel, it is perhaps the oldest building under construction in the world, as it has been under construction since 1999... 20yrs after, this is still its look. Gov.t claim it has gulped about #30Billion plus. I weep for my state... Na who we offend??😭😭 https://t.co/8RAMXC10eX https://twitter.com/FishermanSoup/status/1111004675464151043?s=17

HOW POLICE OFFICERS ABUSE BANKERS' ORDERS TO FREEZE NIGERIANS' BANK ACCOUNTS

- By Dele Igbinedion Esq.

While investigating suspects, the Nigeria Police usually sends a request for Bankers Order to a Magistrates Court.

It is common knowledge that Banks are very secretive, and rightly so. Thus, they always close their ears to any request to open their books for examination or inspection.

However, it is often necessary for police officers to be given access to suspect's bank accounts for the purpose of investigation. So, the law created what is now commonly referred to as a Bankers Order.

Consequently, a Bankers Order is an Order from a Court to a Bank to permit a police officer to inspect its books or records relating to a particular individual or individuals, and also to make copies of the documents. That is all. The police officer or officers will merely be permitted to inspect the books and take photocopies, if necessary, to assist their investigation. Nothing more. This is all the law allows.

But Bankers Order is usually abused by Police officers who furtively insert a clause in the application form requiring the Bank to freeze the account, pending completion of investigation. The problem does not end there.

With mush respect, experience shows that Magistrates and Judges usually sign these Bankers Orders, oftentimes, without as much as reading through them. Worse, no Judicial official even bothers to read the law authorising the issuance of Bankers Orders. I stand to be corrected, but, I wager anyone that no judicial or prosecutorial officer has ever seen the enabling laws.

There seems to be an assumption that  either that the application is correct just because it was made by a police officer, or that the law permits the Police to make the application. But this is not so.

Okay, do not take up issues with me because the statements in the last two paragraphs above are not mine. They are actually the words of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria.

In ONAGORUWA V. I.G.P. (1991) 5 NWLR, the Police obtained a Bankers Order from the Lagos High Court and froze all of Dr. Olu Onagoruwa's accounts, including his law firm's accounts. Gani Fawehinmi led the legal challenge on appeal against the High Court's issuance of the Bankers Order, especially the clause which ordered the freezing of the bank accounts.

The Judgment was unanimous. The Bankers Order was struck down. But that was not all. The Justices at the Court of Appeal were appalled that the High Court Judge granted such an order, particularly the freezing Order. They wisely opined that the English Statutes (which the Police relied upon to support the application) did not authorise the Court to freeze the Account.

That, again, was not all. The Appeal Justices wondered if the Learned High Court Judge even read the Police application for the Bankers Order or the law pursuant to which the application was made. Of course the Judge did not read the law.

I am yet to come across any Judge or Magistrate who has ever read that law. Where will they find it? Well, before you laugh, let me quote from one such Bankers Order which the Police in Delta State used to freeze a client's account. Maybe it will help you understand.

Here it is:

"Application under section 7 of the Bankers Book Act 1879 (42 Vic C11) in conjunction with Section 40 Magistrate's Courts ER No. 10 of 19555 section 45 (i) of the Interpretation  Act Cap 89 Vol. 3 Laws of Nigeria and section 96 (b) Evidence Act Cap 62 Vol. 2 law of Nigeria.

BOY DISGUISED AS DEVIL CAUSES STAMPEDE AT A WINNERS CHAPEL CHURCH AS PASTOR RUNS FOR HIS LIFE

Worshipers at a Winners Chapel Pentecostal Church in Nairobi’s Umoja estate sustained serious wounds after a naughty 15 year old boy caused a stampede.

The faithful bolted out of the Church, falling on each other after the alleged rascal, hidden from their view pretended to be the Devil and scared them stiff.

It all began after worshipers closed their eyes and began chorusing a prayer before the sermon could begin. The boy is said to have tiptoed and picked the extra microphone at the lectern before hiding behind two loud speakers.

All of the sudden, the Church goers heard the booming voice with devilish guttural sound rasping through the Church public address system, announcing that they were now in hell and the voice speaking belonged to the devil himself.

After a loud silence rent in the air, the ‘devil’ ordered all those who truly believed in God to raise their hands, to which none responded. Instead, everyone was looking at each other with fear written all over their faces.

The ‘devil’ then announced that everyone sits down on the floor awaiting further instructions.

As the scared congregation shook and wet their pants before obeying the ‘devil’ to sit down, the pastor bolted out of the Church at maximum speed before they followed suit.

The sudden frenzied rush, coupled with “Shetani Ashindwe” shouts, created a fine mess, making some of the faithful to think it was the much talked about biblical end time.

It was the sight of elders jogging away as fast as they could, women and children wailing for help with other sacred worshipers fervently begging for mercy from the devil that tickled the offending boy, making him to laugh uncontrollably.

It was then that the technicians who maintain the sound system realized that they had been played. They looked around only to discover that an extra microphone was missing and suspected that the offending character was hiding within the Church. The technicians took it to the pulpit and announced that the incident was actually a hoax.

At this point, those who had taken off had been watching the drama unfold from a safe distance,returned. The Pastor took the microphone and began talking in serious tongues and mumbling gibberish as if to curse the offending character.

“Ragashando , ragalambanda … ropokolomashekele….” the Pastor went on as he denounced the devil, calling  him a liar.

“Riswa! Riswa! shetani ashindwe!” he cursed
As few brave members trooped back, the boy who was hiding between two big speakers rose up still laughing off his head. He was almost roughed up, had it not been the timely intervention of elderly Churchgoers who pleaded with angry parishioners.

They told them to forgive the boy for he did not know what he was doing. Meanwhile, in his defense the ‘devil’ boy said he was only testing how faithful the parishioners are to God. The sermon went on uninterrupted afterwards.

Copied.

AN INTERVIEW WITH SOMEONE WHO HATED ME

Six years ago a guy looked at me face to face, and boldly told me; "I don't like you!"
I immediately fired a response, I asked him that day; "Thank you for the honest feedback, but those that you like, how has it made their life better? How does your liking people pay their bills or take a bank loan? My brother keep your like, I need God's like And that's what guarantees my future.

Today I joined a CEO friend of mine in an interview Panel to recruit some new staff, it was a long session, as we returned from a coffee break to continue the hectic interview session, here was this same guy walked in with his grey jacket and CV coming for the interview.

Our eyes kissed by fluke, we immediately recognised each other; "the world is indeed spherical", I soliloquized.
He felt very uncomfortable through out the interview, one could clearly see the volcanic eruption ongoing in his whole nervous system, he even mistook his date of birth for his last date of employment. It wasn't yet my turn to ask him questions so I allowed everyone to take their turns with him and deliberately opted to interview him last.

When it got to my turn, the first thing I said was, "I LIKE YOU so much, you look to me like a brilliant and intelligent person, but it seems you are not doing well now because something bothers you, true?"

"That's very correct Sir!" He responded.

"Ok look at me straight in the eye, I was never offended that day, it is very normal that sometimes as humans you just don't like certain people, but I wasn't bothered either, because whether you liked me or not, it was inconsequential to my life and my success path - as you can see, fate has brought you to my lair"

I stood up and beckoned him to come and embrace me, everyone on the panel at this point were at sea - wondering if we had expeditiously recast an interview session to a Hollywood movie scene.

He hugged me so long and deeply that I felt it. Then I told him, "now get your confidence back bro and answer the questions like a Pro Shark that you are, we all burst into laughter, everyone suddenly liked him and the room became livelier - the interview became more like a discussion, well to cut the long story short, he got the job!

Lessons:

1. Be careful how you treat people when they appear to be in their vulnerable state, your next level may be hanging in their balance;  somewhere in the future.

2. If you dislike someone, it is not their fault, it is YOUR FAULT, work on yourself to find good in people and reinvent your Mind to see everyone as likeable.

3. Don't spew hatred vocally just because it came into your heart, you may say it to someone who will keep it forever and use it against you when you find yourself in your own low moments and need them.

4. Learn to forgive, overlook people's dislike and hatred for you, dont punish people just because you have the position and privilege to do so, bless them rather - that's how you court God's blessings, favour and protection.

5. Share this post, someone needs it to heal from their past burdens of unforgiveness they have been carrying which has been hindering their promotions and inhibiting God's blessings flowing their way!

_*Addendum: I don't know the writer but the article blessed me beyond limits.*_

How Single Church Girls Search for Men in Nigerian Churches

"Ndi Yoruba na Igbo-Phobia"

Genevieve Nnaji wrote...✍🏽

The Igbos have never been the problem with Nigeria or wherever they find themselves.
This is not ethnic jingoism or
bigotry.

The Igbos will never foment troubles where they are because they know that "Isi kote ebu, ọgbaa ya".
They also know deep in their hearts that "Ife onye metalu, obulu."

The Igbos will never kill others to live because they believe that "ndụ bu ịsị."
Yes, murder or "ịgbu ọchu" is one of the most despicable crimes amongst the Igbos.
The Igbos believe that once you are alive, there is always a way left to succeed.
The "igba mbọ" is perhaps the best gift of the Igboman.
Yes, the Igbos struggle to make it in life.
They are industrious, assiduous & sedulous.
The Igbos also believe in helping one
another.
That's why you hear "onye aghana nwanne ya."

There is also no lateness in making it in life amongst the Igbos
because "ebe onye ọsọ ruru, ka onye ije geru" and uwa mgbede ka mma."
Igbo businessmen are scattered all over the world.
Wherever they are, they make their homes, building houses & gentrifying districts.
For most lgbos, "ala bu otu."
Igbos are liberal, accommodating & very friendly to foreigners.
This is because they are themselves scattered all over the world as
immigrants.

Na Lagos, Ndi Igbo n'agba ọsọ ahia, Igbo n'ere gala na go slow, Igbo n'aru conductor, ụmụ Igbo bụ importers bụrụ manufacturers, Igbo nọ into clearing and forwarding, Igbo n'esi
nri, ụmụnna n'ere motor parts, Igbo n'arụ police na ọrụ aka.

Ndi Igbo adirọ selective with jobs maka na onye rụọ, orie.
But the Igbos will never take your lands or countries from you.
The Igboman thinks about his native home.
Yes, you will never provide him with "akpu", bitter leaves soup, palm wine, isi ewu & other scrumptious dishes he misses at Igboland.
While living in your country or state, never you imagine the Igbo is not
thinking about his village.
My friend, he does that everyday.
Where ever the Igbos ubicate, their hearts are not far from their native homes.

Stop killing the Igbos.
They will only make their money & go
back to their land.
And they know how to make legitimate money.
Yes, where you see nothing, the Igbos with their gimlet eyes see "Ego."

So when next you meet an Igboman, ask him "Nna, how far?"
If you are lucky & he had done a successful business deal, he
might just take you out for lunch. Yes, the Igbos like sharing.
On the other hand, if business is low, he will tell you the normal clichés... "Obodo bu Igwe" or Ife an'eme adirọ easy" or "Ogbogu di tight."
Look at his face closely as he laments.
You will see no signs of defeatism. Mind you, he might just be carrying 1Million Naira in his pockets.
Just that the money had already been budgeted for "sontin es!!!"

Daalụ.

Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe wrote this beautiful piece, read and learn.

Lagos State belongs as much to the ethnic Igbo as to the Yoruba, Ijaw, Hausa, Fulani, Efik, Idoma, Urhobo, Itshekiri, Edo, and so on who live in it, pay tax, identify with it, and settle in it. That compact was made the moment Nigeria became a single nation, and a successor power to the old principalities who were subdued and who ceded their sovereignty for the new commonwealth of Nigeria.

It was pragmatic. The Igbo had the skill and the industry, and Lagos was the seat of the Federal Government of Nigeria and its major port. The Igbo have lived in Lagos since the 15th century when the Aro and other Igbo first settled in good number in a place we now call “Oyingbo” in the era of Benin and the Portuguese trade.

The arrival of  Dr. Namdi Azikiwe to Lagos in 1937 from Accra after his studies in the United States, stimulated the political and cultural environment of Lagos as no other has before or after him. Zik literally resurrected the wizard of Kirsten hall from political death. Zik represented Lagos in the western house. The NCNC was the power in Lagos, and not the Action Group. The Igbo were prominent in the governance of Lagos in the Lagos City Hall.

The institutional development of Lagos – the railways, the ports and ship yards; the education and research facilities; the Banking and Commodities Exchange, the development of towns like Yaba, Surulere, Ebutta-Metta, Festac Town, Victoria Island, and now increasing the Ajah-Lekki axis, and of course, the ghettoes along the Orile-Badagry axis, have profound Igbo imprimatur.

The circulation of the image of Lagos is to date best reflected in the cosmopolitan Igbo imagination of one of the greatest African writers of the 20th century, Cyprian Ekwensi, a thorough Lagosian if there was any. Igbo have built industries in Lagos and have been drivers of commerce and exchange.

Interestingly, I was born at plot number 8, Okoya Street, Idumagbo- Lagos, while the Ojukwu families were residing at number one to three on the same street. I grew up to know the father of Odumegwu Ojukwu. Chimbizie and Azuka grew up with us on the same street. Even the Chibeze small parking space at the end of Okoya Street is called Ojukwu.

I later attended St. Patrick Primary School, Idumagbo, where I had very amiable classmates of Igbo origin in the persons of Azubike Ezenwa and Damian, Ihekuna, both now professors and doctors of today. They were brilliant, resourceful and friendly.

When we were playing bamboo and Tene Felele at Orikoriko at Onola playing ground, the Igbo participated actively. In the area of sports, school football and athletes, Igbo were dominant at Kings College, St. Gregory school, St. Finbars, Akoka, Igbobi College and Ahmadiyya College, Agege. Such boys, Njokwu, George Amu, Stephen Keshi, Henry Nwosu, Patrick Noquapor, Peter Anieke and Sammy Opone were dominant on the field of football, while Asiodu, Empire Kanu were prominent on the field of athletics.

Anytime we went to watch football match at Onikan stadium, my darling team, Stationery Stores and our adversary team I hated most was the E. C. N, where the centre forward, Paul Hamilton, the National Team, Fabian the captain who bit the dust. Our greatest captain was Duru, Oduah Onyenrekwa, Onyeador Onyeali and Opel, the greatest outside right Nigeria ever had, Cyril Azuluka. So, during my early life at primary school, the Igbo were always there and delightful to watch, both in athletes and on the football field.

When I listened to radio at that time, both the commentary and drama series, the Igbo were there for you. The likes of Chris Ndaguba, Ernest Okwonkwo, Ralph Okpara ‘Alawo Sekiseki the traveler’. The episode will end with – The script was written by Ralph Okpara and edited by Yemi Lijadu.

Anytime I visited where I was born today in Idumagbo at Lagos Island, the entire place is covered by Igbo traders in their thousands. They were never troublesome but decent and accommodating. They have virtually taken over all properties of the indigenes. They succeeded in developing all our properties, married to most of our children even from the royal families. There is no single house you will visit without an Igbo man selling wares there.

So, who is saying something else? Only the strangers in our midst will not notice participation of economic development in our state by the Igbos. Most houses and shops in Lagos Island have been purchased, developed and occupied by the Igbos. The value of their investments in Lagos Island alone is in trillions of naira.

Instead of deporting the Igbos, whose contributions to the development of Lagos state are immensurable, you must keep on praising and encouraging them to keep on developing Lagos State

Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe

Did you know....

Ojota used to be a military settlement in the late 18th century and soldiers practised their shooting there. The area had several gun firing spots and became known as “Oju Ota” in Yoruba
which means “Bullet spots”. It later metamorphosed into Ojota which it is called now.

2.Abule Egba
This area is on the outskirts of Lagos and got its name from the early settlers who were Egba people from Abeokuta. The area was first called “Abule awon egba” in Yoruba, which means “Village of Egba people”. It later became “Abule Egba”.

3.Apongbon
Apongbon is one of Lagos’ most popular markets, and it’s also quite close to the popular Oke-Arin market. It got its name from the then acting governor of the Lagos colony, William McCoskry, who had a Red Beard. The Yorubas who couldn’t pronounce the colonial governor’s name decided to describe him by his red beard and started calling him “Oyinbo to pon ni igbon” meaning a red-bearded man. It later became Apongbon.

4.Magodo
Magodo is now a posh area, but in the past, it used to be sacred land. The residents had a lot of taboos and one of them was to avoid using mortars and pestles, “Ma gun odo” which means “Don’t pound it”. It later became ‘Magodo

5.Epetedo
Epe is named after the early settlers who were Epe traders. The area became dominated by the Epes and they still trade there until today.

6.Ebute-Metta
Ebute-Metta is one of the earliest harbour docks where British ships berthed at. It was a hub for trade and commerce in colonial times. Ebute-Metta is a fusion of the words “Ebute” which means the seaside in Yoruba, and “Metta” which means three. The three shores are Iddo, Otto and Oko baba.

7.Broad street
Broad street used to be one of the longest and widest streets in the city. It got its name from its broadness.

8.Agidingbi
The British Naval forces invaded Lagos in 1885 under the pretext of stopping slavery and human sacrifice. The noise their canon made was really loud, and the sound was heard round the streets of Lagos Island. The people described the sound as “A gb din gbinnn”. Which means a loud groundbreaking noise. The name Agidingbi was borne out of this.

9.Victoria Island
Victoria Island was also a major hub for commerce and British ships berthed there often. It’s named after Queen Victoria of England who was Queen from 1837-1901.

10.Ikeja
Ikeja, the capital of Lagos, is actually an abbreviation for “Ikorodu And Epe Joint Administration”. It was coined by the colonial masters for ease of administration.”
I hope we find this info useful.