October 17, 2014 – Ahead of the 2015 general elections, Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu 1 has described the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Olasupo Shasore as a true son of Lagos.
The monarch made the remark about Shasore at the launch of the book, Possessed, written by the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice held at the City Hall, Lagos. Shasore is one of the latest entrants into the governorship race in Lagos. He is alleged to be the candidate of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.
Akiolu who spoke in Yoruba and English said “There are many things that were taken unlawfully from us. I am a lawyer, when Fashola leaves office after eight years, Emi pelu e ni ajo ma joko (me and you will sit down) what we used in Oduntan between 1905 and 1913, we will us it to get them back.”
The Oba confidently added that they will look at the issues that have deprived Lagos some of its benefits especially some of the heritages of the state.
“I prayed that I do not want to be the inspector General of police but the Oba of Lagos and GOD did it. I also prayed that the former governor of Central bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, should assumed the throne of his father and God answered the prayer and this that we are about to accomplish, will come to past.
“The one that we are facing now, Ibiti olohun ati emi Oba gbesi, ibe ni oma lo, (where God and I, Oba Akiolu want support, that is how it will be).”
Harping on his lineage, “You all are calling Shasore today, but many do not know that he is a grandson of the land owners in Lagos.
“His grandfather, Rufai Ojoye Shasore was to be the Chief Oluwa of Lagos in 1913, but intrigues from some people did not allow him to assume that post. The man took all that happened in good fate but Oba Faolu was not happy.
“The grandfather of Shasore and Oba Faolu’s mother, Adeogun were related to that palace. This was why immediately Oba Faolu became Oba of Lagos, he appointed Supo Shasore’s father as the Shasore of Lagos.
In his remarks, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola urged the Federal Government to return the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS to the original owners.
“The central government was given the edifice to manage. So when people tell me that they have sold Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, I laughed because they did so in absolute ignorance. It can never be sold.
“That use to be part of the land that belongs to the king of Lagos. And with the conquest and possession of Lagos, it became crown land administered by the British Crown.
“At the end of the colonial era, it was passed on to the Federal Government. And when Lagos was created along with other 11 states, it became state owned land.
“All lands that were inherited by the Nigerian Government from the British government were further handed over to the states which those lands where.
“And the only legislation that exists today on the place was the TBS management act. With this act, the Federal Government was given the managerial power and not the ownership of the facility.”
