Oba Of Lagos, Community Head Call for Recovery of Property Seized from Lagos Govt

Subair Mohammed

Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and head of Otumara 11, Apapa road, Ojo-oniyun community and its environs, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye  have called on the Federal Government to return all the property seized from Lagos state by the Federal Government.

While the monarch made the call when Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila visited his Iga Iduganran palace Sunday, High Chief Kalejaiye lend his voice during his interactions with journalists at his residence in Apapa road.

Oba Akiolu urged the Speaker to use his position as the fourth citizen in the national leadership hierarchy to help Lagos retrieve the said property.

The monarch said he had “valid documents” to lay claims to the property which he said were taken during the military era. He said some of the property were dated back to 19th century.

He said: “We have a catalogue of requests from the Federal Government, from special status for the state to the return of all property belonging to Lagos government which were taken away by military fiat. We want the property to be returned to us”.

According to the monarch, the State must fight for the retrieval of the property which include CMS Grammar School and First Bank building on the Lagos Island and harness them for improved service delivery in the state.

He said, “I have documents in my possession, which date back as far as 1800s, showing the ownership of all the property from CMS Grammar School to the First Bank building in Lagos. These property are needed back for the improvement of our people.

On his part, High Chief Kalejaiye disclosed that Lagos State under the military and the opposition party, the PDP were subjected to lot of denial.

He added, “As the All Progressives Congress, APC holds the centre and the National Assembly, I expect to see an improvement in the status that is accorded to Lagos State particularly in the area of recovery of the seized property. Lagos State being a mega city requires a special status and I am confident that this would be granted under this administration.”

Responding, Gbajabiamila described his home coming as very emotional, noting that “it feels really great to be welcomed home by your people”.

The Speaker noted that Lagos is his home but Nigeria is his seat. He promised to be fair to every Nigerian in his administration of the House of Representatives.

The Speaker promised better collaboration between the Federal and Lagos State Government, saying so much is expected of Governor Sanwo-Olu to deliver the dividend of democracy.