Alhaji Femi Okunnu, a lawyer and former Federal Commissioner under Gowon, and husband of Alhaja Latifatu Okunnu, nee Oyekan, scion of the Oshodi Clan, the former Deputy Governor of Lagos, is as Lagos as Lagos can get.
Alhaji Okunnu is the face of Lagos island. A true Area boy, a product of the melting pot that is Lagos Island.
And he is angry.
Yesterday, at the Conference organized to celebrate Lagos, Alhaji Okunnu was visibly angry about those who refer to Lagos, his Lagos, as a no man's land.
Going down historical lane, Alhaji Okunnu reminded the audience that Aworis are the owners of Lagos, the Lagos royalty is from Bini, and the island is made up of migratory Tapas, Ijeshas, Brazilian returnees, and sundry others that make up the Lagos personae.
While he recognizes the role of immigrants to the growth of Lagos, he thought it was uncharitable, provocative and insulting for any sensible person to call Lagos a no man's land, A view shared by the Oba of Lagos, the Lecturer, Professor Danmole, and former Ogun State governor, Akinrogun Osoba.
And I agree with him.
In Yoruba culture, as well in other civilized parts of this country, it is considered crude and mannerless to insult your host, an act of uncouth barbarity, and a reflection of the level of civility, or lack of it, from wherever you came from.
Lagos has been a home to all, indigenes and settlers alike. But while most migratory workers can always go back to their homestead, no matter how inhospitable and settler repulsive it may be , but Lagosians have nowhere else to call home.
And for those whose refrain is that Lagos was a Federal capital and therefore enjoys the sweat of all, remember that Lagos ceased being federal capital 25 years ago, why not go to Abuja if the yorubaness of Lagos irritates you so much?
And like Fashola said a couple of years ago, being a stakeholder does not make you a shareholder.
After all, that C of O that is making your head swell means Certificate of Occupancy, not a Certificate of Ownership.
Lagos opens up her arms to welcome migrants daily, and most utilized that advantage to the fullest, the least we could do is show some respect to the indigenous population, not only in Lagos, but all cities that provide melting pots for self actualization. I.e. Ibadan, Enugu, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Aba, Onitsha, Kano, Jos, Abeokuta, Akure, and a host of others.
Thank you, Alhaji Okunnu, agba ko ni tan lori ile.
My Ten Kobo+
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