Says Obanikoro Has Invaded Lagos with Soldiers Says Fashola
Fashola made the observation at an occasion to mark his 2,500 days in office. He alleged that Obanikoro, a few days ago, accompanied by some soldiers, stormed the site of the Illubirin Housing scheme in Lagos Island, where the state government is planning 1,188 flats.
He explained that the minister’s intention was to stop the project under guise that the land belongs to the Federal Government adding that the land was awarded to Julius Berger by the Lagos State Government under the tenure of his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“This morning on my way to this event I observed at Illubirin Housing Estate where we have started building 1,188 flats somebody has gone to put a sign of Federal Republic of Nigeria that they own the land. Now that land has been there for the last five years the contract to reclaiming that land was issued by Lagos to Julius Berger under my predecessor tenure.
About a month ago we awarded the contract for construction, suddenly the federal government realizes now and is claiming ownership of the land, I was told that the minister we are talking about is Senator Obanikoro who was there on Saturday with soldiers and they the minister also stormed a similar construction site at Oyingbo claiming that the Federal government owns the land.
“The contractor at Oyingbo has stopped work because some agents of federal government has moved soldiers there claiming that they own the land, now as far as I recall that land is the land next to mainland hotel and it is good that Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson is here because it is part of the land that he acquired during his tenure when Alhaji Femi Okunnu was Federal Commissioner for Works.”
Fashola said that documents handed over to the state government showed that that the land belong to Lagos State.
“It has not been in use for many years it was when we started Lagos HOMs initiative that we decided to build 48 flats there; we have started building then people came with soldiers and said it belongs to Federal Government.
Fashola also explained that in spite of recording 1.2million votes from Lagos State, the federal government does not give the state the equal representation with the appointment of ministers into the Federal Executive Council adding that Mr. Segun Aganga does not represent Lagos.
“If I recall correctly, I think it is section 147 of the constitution that state that every state be represented by a minister indigenous to the people of those states. Mr. Aganga as far as I know is from somewhere in Edo State not from Lagos. He is not an indigene of Lagos to his credit, he has supported our initiatives here, and he has supported the free trade zone.
