The Decree 5 of 1967 that created Lagos state recognized the communities indigenous to the State as the Aworis of the old Ikeja Division, the Ijebus of the old old Epe Division, the Ogwus of the old Badagry Divison, the Ikorodus who were part of Eti Osa, and the old Federal Colony of Lagos.

This, according to that cerebral Professor of Lagos History, late Professor Kunle Lawal, formerly of LASU and later UI, were the original Lagosians created by the Decree that created the State.

But prior to the creation of this state, there had been a feverish debate between two political camps in the defunct first Republic, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s people in the AG and the late Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya’s people in the defunct NCNC.

The AG’s people were of the opinion that Lagos belongs to the West, while the NCNC’s camp held the view that Lagos stands alone. From thee Danfo Gedegbe slang emerged. The late Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe most naturally backed the Danfo Gedegbe rebels. Pa Awo as the Premier of the West had confiscated a large portion of land stretching from Maryland through Adeniyi Jones up to present day Ile Zik in Ikeja from him.

Dr. Zik had claimed ownership of the said land without any documents to back up his claims and the Government of Western Region promptly acted in the public interest and revoke his ownership. The land was converted into public use till date.

The Danfo Gedegbe and Lagos belonged to West issue was the main campaign issue before the 1965 Federal elections. The AG with its Lagos belonged to the West band won. This debate still spread to the 1979 Governorship election in the state. Pa Lateef Kayode Jakande of the UPN defeated late Adeniran Ogunsanya of the NPP. This effectively laid to ?rest the ghost of the debate. Lagos belongs to the West, it was affirmed.

Now each time I heard our friends across the Niger, most particularly the Ibos, garrulously claimed : LAGOS IS NO MAN’S LAND, I shiver. How can?

The Decree that created the state never accommodated this tribe, nor envisaged their coming to struggle for joint ownership. The meagre crowd of settlers from the East pre First Republic can hardly be of any reasonable number, but the rush actually began post Civil War in 1971. And today, due to the benevolent nature of the indigenes, are in millions, not only in Lagos state but across the Western Region.

One vital point of note is that late General Sami Abacha when creating Bayelsa state specifically called all the Ijaws, wherever they might be in the country, to move to that state. This !sans, Bayelsa state is for the Ijaws. Our Igbo brothers and sisters were abundantly taken care across the Niger, first by Imo and Anambra states, later increased to four and today, they have five good states, where no non indigenes ever struggle with them for anything.

Political structure of Nigeria is 36 states and FCT. Lagos was a former FCT. This status, however, ceased since 1991. And ever since successive Federal governments have abandoned the state to her fate. All the 36 states and FCT collect their due Federal Allocations every from the Federal purse. The 5 Igbo states collect theirs and spent as they so fancies. Lagos collects hers too, but is forced to spend it on indigenes of these 5 Igbo states. Facilities and infrastructures are overstretched, public utilities are congested.

Agreed, these are prices the indigenes need to pay for the rapid urbanization of their state.

The record expansion, the over inflated costs of landed properties, the booming businesses, are no doubt, part of the gains of mass influx from other parts of the country, but this is not enough for anyone to come and start blabbing: LAGOS IS NO MAN’S LAND!

The issue of nativity in Lagos state may well stretch beyond the present animated claims by the Igbo’s. Should it not be nip in the bud now, and now is the time, the Hausas, whose history pre-dated that of Igbo’s in the State may rise up from Ikorodu, Idi Araba, Agege, Sura Alaba and raise a claim for an independent Emirate within the state.

Some of my friends have pointed at what they called an amorphous nature of the state. Easily, they noted somebody will leave his seat in Lagos and just moved to another Yoruba state to continue his career, especially political. Yes, by Lagos belongs to West, we mean Lagos is created to serve Yoruba’s interest.

No ethnic nationality is allowed to brush the sensibility of others. Lagos people are no weaklings, they are only civilized, educated, liberal, accommodating and benevolent, no more!