"We’ve been here before, it is unfortunate that we have seen Lagos state government treat us as commoners” James Zaphaniah says. He continued “but we know better now, they come in every four years to plead for votes but ignore our existence when they win”For residents of Sagbokoji Island, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, of Lagos state, nothing is particularly special about the 2015 general elections.
The
forthcoming poll serves as another Charade of Campaign Promises and
unachievable plans by the ruling Political party in Lagos, the All
Progressives Congress, APC.
“The
APC government talks about change but deprive us of our rights to
livelihood, I’ve stayed here all my life, ACN as we used to call it, now
APC has abandoned us because we have continued to vote for the PDP,”
Abi Jewel, an Ijaw settler says.
Just
like the story with Makoko, a settlement on the Lagos Lagoon,
forcefully demolished by the state government, which led to the deaths
of many, residents express worry.
“Governor
Fashola kept talking about mega city but the poor is not welcomed to
such a city. Before the general election in 2011, they were in Makoko to
campaign for votes but did you see what they did there? The government
even called us foreigners, miscreants and thives”, Rosemary Magre, an
Ilaje businesswoman in Igbologun tells me.
In
the same vein, the Sagbokoji people have had to go to courts over the
planned sack by the state government, having moved from Idiagbon
community, another settlement sold to the rich and wealthy, says Abi Jewel.
“We
are nomads’ but they come over here for votes when it’s time to woo
electorates, we are waiting for the day of election so we can show those
screaming ‘change’ a slogan that only protects the wealthy Lagosians
but we will go all out to vote and we will see that our votes counts”
Jewel maintained. “We have not forgotten and we cannot forget.”
The
impoverished riverine settlers are right to consider their eviction a
grave injustice. The government appears wholly disinclined to offer any
housing assistance to evicted families.
Mrs Komolafe Ezikiel says
“Fashola and APC do not want us but want our votes, they have moved
against our means of survival by ignoring our existence and pushing for
our eviction”.
“I
am a trader,” she added, “all we have asked for is to be allowed to
settle by the waterside to continue fishing, we do they sack us and now
come for our votes,”
The
micro-economy here survives mostly on fishing and the trade of basic
staples, but that survival according to a fisherman Mr Deji Emerua, in
Ilado, another riverine community in same Amuwo Odofin LGA, cannot be
guaranteed by the APC led government.
A
trip to Sankey Island, another community surrounded by wooden shacks,
the riverine dwellers in strong terms vow to vote out the Fashola led
government that it says has failed to provide the basic amenities for
the people abandoned by the Babatunde Fashola government and successive
governments since 1999. The riverine community is host to over a million
settlera.
“We
have seen them coming here to beg for our votes, someone has informed
us reliably that Fashola asked the court to suspend the case until after
elections, which means he wants our votes for Ambode and APC before
sending his bulldozer to send us parking again for the wealthy to take
over our Land”, the Baale, Ade Ogun,maintained.
“Can’t the poor live in Lagos”? The Baale probes further.
As
I visited Igbologun, another settlement, and spoke with some of the
settlers, I saw – and felt – fear and dashed hopes visibly written on
the peoples’ faces.
“We
have no boats for transportation, we have no healthcare facility, we’ve
had to transport our heavily pregnant women to give birth in places
like Apapa by paddling the boats, most have had to deliver their
children on the high sea” explains Godson Abikwi, a resident said.
This
revealing story represents the the accounts of close to 2 Million
Riverine settlers in Lagos who are yet to witness any form of change
under the APC government and see the Party's promise as failed while
insisting that Charity - must begin from home.
127 comments:
Wow!
Nice article!!! Lindaobserve
Better vote wisely...
~D great anonymous!
All these sponsored posts sef...these are even evidence of GEJ's failure!
Whatever the case mayb,Buhari will bring d right change we need, Insha Allah,
I don't get your point madam. Linda take note!
Abeg jor........... Why dis time...so dey just realised dat change has not come to them since........
Moye says so via BB Passport...Courtesy LIB....
I wonder how Nigerians will suffer if Jonathan is elected the 2nd term, when he knows he's not coming back for our votes and has nothing to lose
Adesuwa come back to Ur state and leave Lagos alone.....
Peace unto mankind but I wonder y dis was not published all dis while. So they had to wait until d elections period b4 dishing dis out. God help us.
linda ikeji! why is it that all PDP posts are sponsored, nut you cover events APC's post for free. SMH! You dont cover PDP's event at all, anyone you cover it is sponsored. I havent seen anyone sponsored by APC, but you cover them. HMMMMMMMMM.
Abeg relax joor!
Apc has really tried in lagos,
So many difference now in lagos.
Apc are not magicians, there is no way Apc can do everything right or touch everywhere in lagos.
Its. Gonn be better wen we get to the federal level, change is the key we will change for better!!!
...My name is simple CALL ME KYKE...
Its. Gonn be better wen we get to the federal level, change is the key we will change for better!!!
...My name is simple CALL ME KYKE...
Its. Gonn be better wen we get to the federal level, change is the key we will change for better!!!
...My name is simple CALL ME KYKE...
Vote PDP simple
Back to iponri near contain in Ebute metta, destroyed by gov.fashola and sold to himself and APC members. Change indeed.
.
PDP u cannot win...pack it up!
Lol normal thing,are they surprised.
Even if u write frm now till tomorw, the govt will nothing
Dem plenty na
That is why Nigerians must use their senses in this forthcoming election,VOTE WISELY..don't be deceived
Linda, enough of all these hate posts!
Some people and their fantasy about Lagos ? must they live in Lagos , why can they stay back at their village. Who tell them if PDP win Lagos agbaje or gej will remember them.
Dear linda, enough of all these hate posts!
APC cnt give us change DAT is it .....which Change do dey know
hmmmm we a'int seen anything yet... what of if they rule the 36 states maybe we will have to move to the neighboring countries....i guess its also part of change... #changenoni
Truth be told.....APC and their epic promises.. And the overnight messiah using GEJ lil flaws as ball point to manipulate innocent Nigerians. APC or PDP all look the same to me
If the post na for APC now, u 4 4get to write "sponsored post", Linda we are watching, stop being biased
My dear, some part in lagos are not worth it ehhh, especially during my nysc yr, when u get to Apapa, when u get to coconut side u walk down alittle to the market and enter boat to one place like dat like dat, u will no that some people are suffering in lag and they don't even know about christ.......
Dis govt pple shud learn 2 kip 2 their promises.
Pamscrib.blogspot.com
omg...
You guys should please vote Jimi Agbaje in then you will know what change is........
and they say Lagos is working... the only part of Lagos that's working is the Island and every area where the rich are, APCriminals don't give a shit about the poor masses.. was it not one of their governors who told a poor widow to "go and die" just cos she was pleading that her petty goods are not ceased and later destroyed.. sadly, bonario would comment that this is political. smh, i'd like to meet bonario one on one, to take around the real Lagos and not the upscale area where he stays, u'd be blown away at how terrible Lagos really is..
Bull crap from our lunatic APC
Bull crap from our lunatic APC
Nonsense APC for Change, NDIARA!!!! No b dt fool wey pack people go drop 4 niger bridge? If I hear say Apc win for lagos ds tym.
Na today APC? Wicked and selfish.fadhiola is busy talking trash about GEJ when he is as mean as buhari he will destroy the people and am not suprised
Not even common decent public toilet or good drinking water for my people God will punish fashola
All you screaming APC change if he cant handle lag with all the tax he is generating from lag then he can help nigeria.useless APC ppl
All you screaming APC change if he cant handle lag with all the tax he is generating from lag then he can help nigeria.useless APC ppl
Una No no say tinibu and fashiola plus buhari na thieves
Nawa ooo.... I just hope Jimmy wins dis governorship election....
Even oshomole my dear.i went to Benin n couldn't believe it.that city is dead.not even one good road.everywhere is flooded once it rains.APC can't change any thing.na only airport rd he managed to construct
Vote agbaje for change
My point exactly.
You fools keep running down Lagos, yet you refused to go back to your dead village. Tell me a city in any part of the world that does not have slums or the poor. This is bull. Change is inevitable. Go to Bayelsa and see the standard of living with their fat monthly allocation with the little population. Fashola is the best.
Vote Jimi Agbaje
Hmmmmm..
a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said...
.
And this is coming during election why??
.
.
***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
Impressive but is our GEJ confident of himself?
La is Lagos not part of Nigeria? U can decide to live in any state you choose to live in as a Nigerian so says our constitution.
I don't bliv wat dis writer jst said, dey are all lies. I also live in amuwo odofin local govt and I also visit the riverine very well, she talk abt igbologun, igbologun in amuwo has a new health center whc d govment provide for dem and its nt jst a health center, it has an optician, a dentist and sum oda professional doc dere and also the are a lot of speed boat at d riverine area, the goverment provide life jacket every year and even gave the student dere a personal lifejacket and means of transport to dere skul, I can tell u dt d amuwo odofin govt has tried very well in dt aspect but the is things u jst can't satisfy everybody no mata wat u do,I remember d local govt providin school bags and textbook to student arnd there, plssssss let GEJ and its party member to stop decievin us.
Sure thing
Gbam!!
Earthworm is better than you! Is GEJ the governor of Lagos? Fool!!!!
Educate urself. D fedral government is responsible 4 dis pple not just state. Alot of dis pple migrate from oda states to lagos and start making demands. I'm sure d place is an illegal settlement. And dis is a pdp sponsored post until u guys turn d whole naija 2 grass root. Go n complain about developing ur state.
PDP ain't better too. Between the sea and the devil, will pick the sea. Agbaje doesn't even look like a governor candidate. I will pick anyone over PDP. End of story
PDP sponsors every post to paint APC black. On television they bombard us with countless documentaries that they myopically thought will taint APC but it is rather ganering more support for APC. They get jittery when a documentary about them is purported to be in the offing. It's just a week to change, on change we still stand.
@ Noordean. I wonder o. I will vote anyone over PDP candidate. The most corrupt self centered party
My thought exactly! Every post of PDP related is sponsord! Linda kpachapu anya gi o!!!
Be ready to hug transformer on March 29 or 30th cos u ll be greatly disappointed. I was for APC, but their lies is so obvious.
It a big lie, go to hell, still voting for Apc.......... sai buhari for president 2015, Ambode for governor of lagos state 2015. Apc............ CHANGE.
Dear Adesuwa, I red through your wonderful article but let me just put this straight to you, there's no way government can effect change in these areas you have mentioned without resettling these people, these places are not supposed to be a residential area in the first place be it "Sagbokoji, Ogogoro village , Igbo Ologun, Igbo Alejo, Imore. You need to see how these settlers messes up our coastal waters within the harbour and also commit all sort of heinous crime which is not really the best. I've familiarized myself with this areas mentioned for over a decade and I know much about the area, you can't blame the Lagos state government totally for not doing anything to develop this areas if the govt decides today to relocate this people to a different location they would reject the offer bluntly, those places you are seeing are capable of generating billions into the federal and state govt coffers if the necessary steps are taken, those islands are supposed to serve as part of Lagos Port extension (Deep Sea Port)this will aid the decongestion of the ever busy apapa/Tincan Port, it would also eliminate the long hours of traffic being experienced daily at the Apapa Port access road. Much of this task falls on the federal govt. I'm sure you know what the popular barbeach looks like some decades ago, how settlers & miscreants messes up the whole place but look at the transformation of the same barbeach today by the state govt. In a nutshell shell all the govt needs to do, state govt in collaboration with the Federal govt is to relocate this people to a new location at a very low rate of free of charge where they would have access to basic & social amenities,then the government can develop these islands for the benefit of our nation and environment. I'm neither a Pdp nor Apc member but in as much as I believe & support the dream of JK, I would also implore you to give the present administration the necessary credits deserved.
It is obvious Adesuwa that you are still paying in kind for the all expense paid trip you and your mum and siblings went for in Dubai last year...professional runs girl turned public analyst. We know that one of your PDP sugar daddies induced you to pay someone to write this because you never wrote this well in BIU.
If its just 2 million adecoding to the writer, thats about 15% as the population of Lagos is 16 million as at 2006 which is much better than many other states.... writer, read more.
You really put up a great show. Did the motivation come from the thousands of dollars you received from PDP? Because you have never worked for a charity group since i knew you. Better still, you could have posted a picture of ''OTUEKE'' with people living in slums as a result of rapacious successive governments the people of bayelsa state have been voting for. Its gonna take many terms for any single governor to fix Lagos. And i am talking about a pragmatic, principled and non-corrupt leader unlike ''OGA JONAH'' You are my friend and this is not personal. I am not gonna say much.......but at this point, change is imminent and we are gonna see what happens in the next four years. May God keep us all alive. See you around.
You really put up a great show. Did the motivation come from the thousands of dollars you received from PDP? Because you have never worked for a charity group since i knew you. Better still, you could have posted a picture of ''OTUEKE'' with people living in slums as a result of rapacious successive governments the people of bayelsa state have been voting for. Its gonna take many terms for any single governor to fix Lagos. And i am talking about a pragmatic, principled and non-corrupt leader unlike ''OGA JONAH'' You are my friend and this is not personal. I am not gonna say much.......but at this point, change is imminent and we are gonna see what happens in the next four years. May God keep us all alive. See you around.
Transformer when lit nor dey! Guy wise up, vote for CHANGE
Pictures and stories like this make me stop complaining to God.
Useless article. Are you telling us we will not find something even more pathetic than this in Bayelsa,Delta, Abia and other PDP controlled states. Even in America, there are slums and shanty towns
All of u shouting APC must indeed be myopic....am sure u agree that ds politician Wud migrate to any party making rave @d moment, ain't Most of ds APC pple the bad eggs of PDP? even Obj? Lai mohammed? Rotimi? Haba Nigerians am not in support of any political party, buh those pple shouting, how many of u re indigenes of Lagos? Abeg jare? If I work in Lagos nd pay tax, I can object nd air my views if d govt isn't trying........the transformation coming to Lagos is to phase out d poor which is unfair
Nonsense sponsored post by Desperate PDP.... If lagos has this figures then other PDP states have x10 of this claimed figure. You want to compare center of excellence with all those PDP states? The sponsor must be sick in their mind.
No matter how good an administration is, it can't do it all. There must always be stones left unturned. Fashola go dey accuse GEJ, but there are places is lag dat has not felt the impact of his governance. No body is superman, Nobody is perfect.
You are a big FOOL. I hate bloody hypocrites.So u knw say APC no be magicians n dey can't do everything or touch everywhere in Lagos, yet una want PDP to be magicians n touch everywhere in Nigeria.
Hmmmmm c grammar!ur comment does not even make sense.apc event,pdp event.wia r d events,otepu!!
Eyah, sorry ma. Is that the change you want, Please vote wisely
If apc win abeg mke u jump inside river niger innugo?!NDIARA!!!!
Its fashola not fadhiola,if u wanna shade sum1 at least learn 2 spell d name correctly!
If apc win abeg mke u jump inside river niger innugo?!NDIARA!!!!
Jibull abi jibril or what your foolish name is.... it's so obvious that you are as blind as the so called APC so better shut your gutter of a mouth rather than saying. Rubish,Aboki like you
What else do you expect from a hitherto hardworking and selfless lady who aimed at working with dignity but is now being fucked by Tinubu, LIB works for and with Tinubu, she's now soooo biased and hypocritical in most of her posts...if your comments are not in support of APC, Tinubu, Buhari, Fashola et al. she will not post it...also if the likes of Abokidawarriboy and Bonario who are blind supporters of APC comments even when everybody comments before them, she will make sure their comments stays up so everybody would see it, just to prove a silly point of saying people support APC...continue with your shameless propaganda o
even though this is sad, every state, every country has their slums where poor people live...its not just in Lagos. some small settlements in Abuja are worse than this people. Its not about the party but the candidate
Anon 11.02, your ignorance is shocking!!!!!
So you don't know a president is accountable for the over all condition of the country he oversees?
What do you think Federal Republic means? All public funds are generated locally, and then appropriated centrally before the state can use them. Do you think Lagos State can develop any area without federal permission and funding?
Do you think it makes sense that oil producing states are among the poorest? Where do think the missing billions that ended up in the pockets of those on federal level came from? GEJ has a lot to answer for. And you need to go back to primary school.
True talk .just lekki, VGC, island , surulere. Festac is where the govt put more effort. The rest is none of their business
Sai Buhari!!!!!
I and my entire household will vote for APC, atleast we cld see Lagos working, unlike PDP led federal govenment dt we only see dia work on mp3, we hear bt can't see
Story for d gods. Sai Buhari
Why all APC candidate are so full of lies? On fulfill promises,they are clamoring for change then let their be change in lagos too,I think that will help the masses a little,may APC governors has fail their State e.g ABIOLA AJIMOBI............. AREGBE etc,I hope people vote wisely, and don't fall for APC propaganda because that's the only thing they know how to do
Even in Lekki phase 1. The water from the government smells like shit. It's so horrible. Dirty all sorts. We had to wash the tanks thinking it was dirty but only to our surprise the water still smells
I expected some die hard APC supporters to comment on the contrary, but NO! They aren't saying anything. You see, the change we all clamour for, isn't only on the Federal level, but in Lagos too. And unfortunately, the chief sponsor of change on the Federal level is one of the chief causes of not allowing the dividends of democracy to reach this areas. Please, lets not vote for the sake of tribal or religious sentiments but for truth and reason. Not for some group lying continuously and shouting change.
fashola has done well yes we but it is more on the island, talking about amuwo odofin, hope we are aware that satellite town is under amuwo odofin and also ijegun egba those places have been forgotten by the local government and it really painful.
If is very obvious that APC agendas do not have the poor on the list. It is so unfortunate because good governance has BRF has claimed to portait has no poor or average Nigerian in mind.
People clamour for change but change always come at a cost #y'all gonna go back to your village.
All the APC members do is to shout change, yet the poor people in the states they govern suffer neglect. Amaechi of Rivers State is also one of those APC governors that evict innocent citizens from their residence without providing alternative abode for them. Tinubu is a criminal that must be voted out with his APC evil men.
My people, pls don't say people show go back to their dead village because you have a comfortable home to sleep and even pay for. Most of them their are humans like you and have basic needs like good shelter. They deserve wat you get which can even be taken away from you without your consent. Both political parties have selfish interest.I went to one of the best schools and by the grace of God comfortable and take out my time to visit these areas mentioned and that changed my life. Let us not put our hope in any of these parties but have the courage to help these places individualy because we all know that none of this political party can ever keep their promises.
And for those politicians decamping from one currupt political party to the other currupt political party, did they become pastors and imams over night and realized that Nigeria needs change? Honestly they moved for new appointments when their new parties wins so that they will continue where they stopped in their previous party. I sincerely don't like both of them and WISH NIgerians will go out and vote any other STRANGe and UKNOWN party to surprise this HEARTLESS politicians. PLS let's VOTE wisely BECAUSE putting our lives into both parties and getting DISAPPOINTED will be HEART BREAKING.
Bro na ur eyes he go happen
God punish you and buhari
Can the poor live in New York? Can the poor live well in London or Paris? Please use your heads, Lagos is not meant for everyone. All these people are either from cotonue or Togo or other states. Why can't they go back home? Fashola has said it, go back home if Lagos is not for you. Abeg use your head poster.
U sure know her very well, back then she was use to small small runs.....
See u were God no go punish u dey mad
They shld go bak 2 dier villages,..period
JONATHAN PLEASE SELL YOURSELF BUHARI IS DIFFERENT
THANK U O SHES FROM EDO LAND OF ASHEWOS SHE NO GO MIDDLE CLASS AREA
Wicked people. No plan for the poor. All they do is to buy blogers and news papers to talk so loud like they are saints. But it's the same thing everywhere Apc is ruling. Bring touts and teach them how to cross legs and posse gentle. Let ambode face AGBAJE in a debate. PDP wins, GEJ all the way. GOD win
GOD bless u 4 dis reply. I tink he or she has no knowlege of government.
watched a documents about one of the sums in Lagos, the people living on water, they actually said they want to be left alone, I did not get it. Anyway even if govt cant relocate them I'm sure good infrastructure can be put in place in a side like amuwo odofin, been there lots of land, bore-hole will make a huge difference
This can happen under any government
Why are they speaking out now. They should complain at the nearest LGA
I believe the incoming Governor Ambode will address their needs
The truth is there are poor people in every city, even in developed countries
First of all, those places are not residential areas so why bring sentiments into this matter and besides not everyone would appreciate what the Lagos State government is doing because of what we see differently of course out of selfish interests
Its all propaganda.... #VoteAPC
Still going to vote for continuity. I believ this issue will be resolved.
Never too late to correct. Vote wisely and vote for continuity
If you like cook up more stories, APC is still the best hope we have, because the PDP in the federal has done nothing in the past 6 years, so i guess you're not ready to continue suffering. APC ni joor
The poor can live in Lagos
APC has tried for Lagos despite the federal's intimidation to taking over. I think you should give them the credit.
Vote APC!! Regardsless, this is just a few peoples experience. It can be better
Please lets vote wisely ooo...because APC is our best chance if you dont want to move Nigeria backwards.
I am still voting Ambode. Am sure he will deliver them
Lagos is big, no matter what some pple will feel left out. Vote wisely and vote for continuity.
Oh yes, the poor can live in Lagos
It will be well come march 28..Vote wisely
Mere words without proof. As long as Makoko exist in Lagos state, Sch names cannot be attributed to them cos they all deserve to be served by the government. Say the truth and move on. APC still has it and they will win.
Who will do better than APC if not for APC. abeg stop this propaganda and say the truth.
This article's content are all false. Please pull it down. Sent you a tweet with a proof. You dont need to publish this comment
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