By Matthew Mahmood
Oniru (left), and Fashola, addressing homeless 'Makokoans'
The governor said he was aware that the existence of Makoko slum would make “an international news feature from which [the so-called sympathisers] can benefit; from which they can say they are given grants; they are going to treat [slum-dwellers] for AIDS; they are going to help them for cholera and they are going to help them for things that never get there. So, people are living off that slum and these innocent people don’t know. That’s why the outcry is high.”
—ThisDay
Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has described the people who are against the demolition and forced eviction of Makoko slum, and inhabitants as "sympathisers" making “orchestrated noise”. Did the World Federation of Trade Unions and the National Human Rights Commission also make “orchestrated noise”? He further claimed that it was for the purpose of gaining international grants fraudulently, while the Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Demolition Segun Oninu blatantly lied that “the exercise was a clearing of the waterfront and not demolition”.
Last week, we asked why Fashola could not name the recipients of alleged fraudulent international funds and report them to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He is yet to name anybody. If he is not a Senior Advocate of ‘Lies’, he should reveal the names of such recipients as soon as possible and alert the EFCC.
Fashola misused his authority as a State Governor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria to carry out illegal eviction and demolition of Makoko slum on Lagos lagoon. In order to ‘cover’ his misdeeds, he shamelessly resorted to ‘mudslinging’. On the internet, we have seen some young NGOs who visited Makoko before the demolition. Were they the people that Fashola was initially grumbling about? Why couldn’t the state government render the services that the NGOs were giving to Makoko residents in the first instance?
Like Fashola, the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi ordered the demolition of Njemanze and Abonnema waterfront communities, and rendered thousands of people homeless. Amaechi’s reason excuse was that hoodlums used the waterfront as their hideout for criminal activities. Unlike Makoko, the Njemanze inhabitants were allegedly given 12 months’ quit notice and are to be compensated. Some of the people that were compensated in Abonnema 'protested' the inadequate amount, which allegedly ranged from N40,000 to N1.2 million. They were compensated upfront, but their homes were demolished before the due date. Makoko slum inhabitants were given a 72-hour quit notice without any form of compensation. Yet, Fashola does not think that evicted 'Makokoans' should have 'sympathisers'. Is Fashola not a wicked governor? Eko’n baje lo! (Lagos is getting worse).
Fashola and Oniru do not understand that the so called ‘sympathisers’ of Makoko demolition and forced eviction were not saying that Makoko slum should have remained a slum. The way the eviction was carried out was illegal and led to the homelessness of over 20,000 people. If the evicted people were given alternative place(s) to resettle, we doubt if such 'sympathisers' would have emerged. Was Fashola trying to say that human cruelty should be accepted?
The executive secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), ‘Prof. Bem Angwe, said “governments should take proactive measures to prevent the growth of urban slums and when they are allowed to grow, especially for many decades, careful planning, sensitization and adequate alternatives must be put in place before rebuilding such communities.”
—The Nation
The NHRC is currently investigating complaints of Makoko eviction and demolition. Such complaints should also be made to the International Criminal Court by 2015 or when Fashola is no longer the governor of Lagos State. More over, Nigerian governors are protected by the immunity clause, like the president, until they are out of office because they are more or less immune to prosecution while in office. At a recent public hearing, on the proposed 1999 constitution amendment by the National Assembly, Fashola was against the 'removal' of the immunity clause. Fashola can continue to exercise his rights under the immunity clause and Makoko complainants can also exercise their rights at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and aggression.
According to the Baale of Makoko Steven Aji, the Makoko people started to live in Makoko from 1890, which is about 122 years ago. The BBC says nearly 100,000 people lived in Makoko. Nigeria became independent in 1960 and will celebrate 52 years of independence on October 1. Makoko could be 70 years older than Nigeria and 77 years older than Lagos State. How old is Lagos State? Lagos State, Nigeria’s former capital is 45 years old and ‘was created on May 27, 1967 by virtue of State (Creation and Transitional Provisions) Decree No. 14 of 1967, which restructured Nigeria’s Federation into 12 states.’ Nigeria currently consists of 36 states and Abuja, the federal capital territory.
Apart from illegal eviction, the NHRC should consider the fact that Makoko is over 100 years old; it is older than Nigeria, and Lagos State. A 45 year old government should not have demolished a 122 year old community without compensation, for a proposed 'look-alike' of Venice, simply because the inhabitants were mostly poor and helpless.
The Executive Director of the Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC), Felix Morka (LL. M Harvard) pointed out in a discussion with the community leaders on July 17th, 2012 that the State Government has no jurisdiction over the waterfront. Legally speaking, Felix said that the country’s Waterfront is in within the jurisdiction of the Nigeria Inland Waterfront Authority (NIWA). And therefore, Federal Government has a role to protect people of Nigeria.
—iReport
Can the Lagos State Government claim to own federal roads in Lagos State? So, why should Fashola and Oniru go to the extent of taking over Makoko waterfront, which is within the jurisdiction of the Nigeria Inland Waterfront Authority? The Federal Government of Nigeria should stop Lagos State Government from carrying out further demolition of waterfront communities with immediate effect.
DAY AFTER MAKOKO & ABONEMA: Frustration of a homeless nation
Makoko: Rights commission investigates alleged forced eviction
Makoko: A Lagos Venice in the Making
Makoko people abandoned in misery
NHRC probes Makoko demolition
