Lagos, Nigeria – The Ilaje community for Bariga dey vex well well as dem don reach boiling point over the proposed change wey go rename Ilaje Street to King Sunny Ade Street. This announcement drop last Friday as the former council chairman, David Kolade Alabi, try to do small honor for some notable people wey don make wave for Bariga. But wetin dem no expect? Fire don catch the community!
People wey dey live for Ilaje no gree make dem just wipe their history like that. The protests wey dem carry come out, no be small. Na so dem take shout ‘No be so!’ for street, arguing say dis renaming matter dey show say dem no send their history at all (E be like say dem wan erase dem from map).
Raphael Irowainu, wey be President General of Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide, no hide him feeling. For interview wey him do with PUNCH Metro, he talk say dis renaming na calculated move wey dey aimed to reduce the voice of Ilaje people for Lagos. ‘E no good at all,’ he talk. ‘Na our ancestors create this place since 1948, and now dem wan erase our contribution?’
Irowainu come drop more gist as he expose the underlying matter. He claim say Lagos State Government dey team up with some people to demolish areas for Ilaje wey also dey face marginalization like Ajegunle. Na serious wahala dis o! He point out that the Janjaweed for Oworo also join to dey demolish some parts of Ilaje in Oworonshoki.
Wetin Irowainu talk get weight: ‘We be among the first settlers for Lagos, along with Awori and Ijebu. No be say we dey come from another planet—we be Yoruba people too!’ He raise question why dem go dey name street for their area after King Sunny Ade when other places fit do the honor as well. ‘E get Ondo Street for Ebute Meta, why dem no just rename am instead? Dis one na war against Ilaje!’
As the matter dey hot, Irowainu don already file petition against the street renaming and him dey threaten legal action. ‘If we need go court, we go go. No be small thing, because even this so-called LCDA no get power to rename any street without consulting wey get the land!’ He add say no be everyone fit just wake up and start naming street like say dem dey play for playground.
David, the former council chairman wey start this renaming arrangement, still dey defend himself. Him talk say na to celebrate people wey don bring global recognition to Bariga. But wetin we fit say wey don share our history? Where una see that kind celebration wey go remove person identity?
We try reach the new LCDA Chairperson, Bukola Adedeji, but e no gree respond to our messages. Na only the community dey vex, the street wey dem wan rename go carry story behind am wey dey tune for everyone ear. If dem no take time, this matter fit turn serious like national disgrace o (and we no fit afford that kind drama again!).
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