by Wale Adebayo
The Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone, Alhaji Tajudeen Disu, was killed in Ibeju-Lekki a few days ago. Some suspects have already been arrested in connection with the murder, with a number of them charged in court and remanded in prison.
Our prayers remain with the bereaved family for God to grant them the fortitude to bear this loss. For the Lagos State Government, it is double tragedy as the engine room of a major project has just been taken out. While there are other quality hands to step into his shoes, no two human beings are the same. Disu’s experience, contacts and manner of handling his job will be sorely missed.
However, it is important that the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, use his good offices to look beyond the murder and get to the root of WHY, WHAT and HOW communities in the Ibeju-Lekki axis appear to have been permanently hostile to successive Governments in the state since 1999. The area in question, up to Lekki, is part of what we call The Epe Axis, and have Ijebus as indigenes.
History may have placed Ambode where he is today in order for God to use him to resolve whatever problems there is/are among the many communities in the area along with whatever grievances they have against those many brand as “oppressors.” It is very easy to blame ordinary folks for taking the law into their hands, when we have access to contacts that make impunity almost impossible.
But for ordinary folks, this may not be possible – either using the courts or the Police. “Awon ni won ni gbogbo e,” is a regular refrain. I do not know the full story about the fracas between soldiers and indigenes of Epe. But folks often talk about same till tomorrow that despite the guns and ‘Government Power’, the people of Epe went back to things their fathers used to ‘deal’ with their oppressors till they left in disgrace.
Ambode should not forget that the same area bore the brunt of British massacre of Ijebus in1892, when thousands of Ijebus were killed by an invading foreign army ably assisted by local saboteurs who had earlier been given refuge by the indigenous people. Yet, despite being broken in bodies, spirits and properties, they maintained their resolve and held onto their Ijebuness.
A murder has been committed. Yes. But there were issues on ground before then. These should be carefully looked into and resolved without the local communities feeling the Lagos State Government is ‘assisting’ one side against the other. Should that happen, it is only a matter of time before another round of crisis erupt in the area, again.
May the soul of Disu rest in peace. We also pray that God will give Ambode the wisdom of Solomon to resolve any and every issue that could lead to a future occurrence or worse in Ibeju-Lekki and its environs.
Eko o ni baje o!
Wale Adebayo is publisher and editor-in-chief at Uhuru Times. He is on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
