UAD PRESS STATEMENT
We in the United Action for Democracy (UAD) want to use this opportunity to speak to the world about the grand armed robbery that is being carried out in Otodo Gbame by the APC/Ambode government in conscious collaboration with known Landgrabbers led by Oba Elegushi.
We want to say that the Land Use Act is clear about the procedures of taking over whatever land that belongs to government legally. The occupants of the land must be carried along and properly compensated. But, that for Lagos state government is nonsense as even the court of law has been crudely disregarded. It is public knowledge that the Otodo Gbame people have secured a judicial pronouncement against the illegal demolitions but Ambode and Oba Elegushi keep trampling on the law and insulting our collective humanity.
The state robbery of Maroko and Makoko where lands that belong to poor people have been taken, rebuilt and handed to the rich. The way the lands of the poor is being taken on hourly bases coupled with the general socio-economic attacks through inhuman policies like Deregulation and Privatisation, the rich is so obsessed with deepening of the class war. If we allow Otodo Gbame to be taken just like the case of Atiporeme in Badagry, and many other locations in the state, we are giving the oppressor more audacity to march on our innocent heads and insult us over and over.
The working people of Otodo Gbame have been at peace until the attacks on them by kidnappers. A responsible and humane government is supposed to help enforce security not illegally and forcefully stealing peoples’ land. The said crime in the first place as to its actors can be summed up in the Yoruba proverb that the wind has blown and we have seen the nude pouch of the hen!
We in the UAD declare today that we will stand and fight alongside Otodo Gbame people in defence of their land. We declare that the APC/Ambode government must stop its attacks on the lives of working people, and create mass housing which has eluded the so-called “Mega city” since the Jakande-era of the early 80s. What then is mega in the mega fraud that is called “Mega city” is the grand theft of both peoples’ land and their livelihoods!
We call on the Inspector-General of Police to warn its men from being continuous partakers in this evil against the poor. Evidence has shown that it is the policemen that serve as bodyguards to the land grabbers and as well help in burning houses and attacking people during these illegal and inhuman actions.
United with the people of Otodo Gbame, and dedicated to the belief that another Nigeria is possible, we in United Action for Democracy (UAD) call on all the working people of Lagos to come together in solidarity with Otodo Gbame. For the rich will spare no one in this systemic theft. An injury to one is an injury to all!
We proclaim that housing is a fundamental human right! We all deserve conducive homes to lay our heads. This must not be the exclusive of the rich alone!
It is when fundamental human rights such as Housing for All is respected by the ruling class will another world be on the cards. The capitalist world is one of inequality. And it’s radically sworn to be so. Only with our self-actions will we be able to resist them.
The attacks on Otodo Gbame are a test for all of us. All hands must be on deck to resist the armed robbery of the APC/Ambode government of a land that rightfully belong to a people for decades.
ENOUGH OF STEALING THE POOR’S LAND AND SELLING TO THE RICH!
STOP ATTACKING OTODO-GBAME!
RESPECT YOUR OWN LAWS!!
AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY HOUSING FOR ALL IS POSSIBLE!
STOP DEREGULATION, PRIVATISATION, AND ALL DEVILISH CAPITALIST POLICIES!
FOR A NIGERIA WHERE THE COMMONWEALTH WILL BE MANAGED AND CONTROLLED BY THE WORKING PEOPLE WHO CREATE THEM!
SIGNED
GABRIEL OJUMAH KUNLE WIZEMAN AJAYI PETER ADEJOBI
CONVENER. GENERAL SECRETARY PUBLICITY SECRETARY.
