LAGOS—IN order to actualise the Ikeja Model City Master
Plan, Lagos State Government, has vowed to relocated the largest
Information and Communication Technology, ICT, hub in the country
popularly called Computer Village, to another location in the state.
The state government declaration came amid controversy
surrounding existence of the market with over 1,000 traders and
companies.
According to the government, relocation of the market to
Katangowa in Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, was part of
the strategy aimed at addressing infrastructural challenges within the
state capital. computers
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve
Ayorinde, cleared air on controversy surrounding the relocation in a
statement made available to newsmen yesterday.
Ayorinde stressed that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led
administration was desirous of making Ikeja a model city and would leave
no stone unturned in actualizing the dream.
He said: “The Ikeja Model City Master Plan designated the
present Computer Village for residential use and that the government
will adhere to the plans to make the area more organized, serene and
habitable.”
Ayorinde also hinted that the State Government has not
issued permit to any individual or organization for construction of an
ICT specialized mall directly sited beside the newly built Ikeja Bus
Terminal.
The commissioner added that such move is not in line with the state government’s regeneration plan for the capital city.
Hinting on plans already embarked upon to ensure quick relocation of the market,
lagos—SOUTHERN leaders yesterday invited their colleagues
from the North to renegotiate Nigeria, saying the country was
approaching a terminal crisis from which it cannot recover unless it is
restructured along the paths of the 1963 Constitution.
Noting that the National Assembly’s rejection of the
proposal for devolution was against popular demand, the southern leaders
vowed to press on with their demand until the issue was brought to a
conclusion. Arewa youths, Ndigbo currently in meeting In Kano over quit notice
The leaders, drawn from the three geopolitical zones of the
South, also berated security agencies for threatening to deal with
agitators of the country’s restructuring describing it as empty and
ineffective threats.”
Adebanjo raps Yemi Osinbajo
Also yesterday, Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo flayed
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo over his comment that agitators for
restructuring were those looking for appointments.
The Southern leaders who met under the aegis of the Southern
Leaders Forum, in Lagos, included among others, Chief Adebanjo; former
Director General of the Department of State Service, Chief A.K Horsfall;
former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof Joe Irukwu; Gen Ike
Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide;
Afenifere chieftain, Dr Amos Akingba and erstwhile chairman of the Niger
Delta Development Commission, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw.
Knocks for National Assembly
Flaying the decision of the National Assembly to shoot down
the proposal on devolution of powers during the recent constitution
alteration exercise, he said: “Their decision reflects the deepest
disregard for the popular demand for the freeing of more powers to the
federating units from our shocking central government. Instead of
devolving power, the National Assembly has now given us a stronger
centre that will now conduct elections in local governments against
extant provisions of the federalism.”
“It is obvious that the National Assembly has taken itself
out of the resolution of the Nigerian crisis by foreclosing devolution
of power.
Unknown to the lawmakers, they have unwittingly given more
ammunition to self-determination forces by attempting to collapse the
restructuring column in the battle for the soul of Nigeria.”
“It would, however, be short-sighted for the National
Assembly and their sympathisers to think this is the end of the matter.
The demand for restructuring cannot end with their decisions as Nigeria
has reached a terminal crisis from which it cannot recover except it is
restructured.”
Vowing to continue on its insistence for the restructuring
of Nigeria, the leaders said “for emphasis, the restructuring we demand
is a return to principles of federalism in Nigeria as obtained in the
1963 Constitution, which allowed the federating units to have autonomy
over their local affairs to create a Nigeria that sustains the
principles of fairness, equity, respect for all constituent units of
Nigeria.”
“We restate in clear terms that this country has gone
through war once and it is not likely to survive another one. The only
way therefore to have a peaceful Nigeria is to have a country based on
justice and equity for all Nigerians. In order to achieve the above,
there is need for sacrifices on all sides as the only insurance for
peace and justice is equity.
Saving Nigeria from destruction and crisis
“We, therefore, call for immediate meeting of well-meaning
leaders from the South and the North to find a way to save Nigeria from
destruction and crisis. An urgent return to the principles our founding
fathers agreed as the basis for our independence is the only way out for
Nigeria as most sectors of our country have lost faith in the
provisions of the 1999 Constitution.”
On the threat to deal with agitators of the country’s restructuring, the forum chided the security operatives, saying:
“Lastly, we are aware of the threat issued from the recent
security meeting in Abuja where operatives of the government were
issuing threats against agitators for renegotiation of the polity. We,
therefore, say that such threats are not taking into account the
realities on the ground,” the forum said.
Reacting to the Acting President’s remarks that
restructuring agitators were looking for appointments, Adebanjo who
spoke on the sidelines of the meeting said: “That is a very unfortunate
statement. I would not like it to appear that we are attacking our
acting president. The Acting President was born on the principle of
restructuring. Myself and his father were followers of Awolowo since the
1950s.”
Speaking further, he said: “He cannot say we are looking for
appointment, is it me or Horsfall or Gen. Ike Nwachukwu? It just shows
someone in position, but does not understand the problem of the people
he is leading. It is an unfortunate statement to make, I am not going to
engage in a brickbats with him, it shows the limit of his knowledge of
how the country came together. I think he should know better. He is not
only a lawyer, he has been an Attorney-General and Vice President.”
