Ilaje Women Accuse Monarchs of Hiding Under Tinubu’s Name
Ilaje women in Lagos have threatened to stage a nude protest following the demolition of their ancestral settlements, accusing certain monarchs of using President Bola Tinubu’s name to justify unlawful demolitions.
Despite heavy rainfall on Tuesday, hundreds of protesters under the umbrella of Egbe Omo Ilaje marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja, demanding urgent intervention from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
The protesters, carrying placards, described the demolitions as acts of land grabbing allegedly orchestrated by traditional rulers in Lagos.
Protesters Threaten Nude Demonstration at Palaces
Speaking during the protest, an elderly woman identified as Ifagbemi declared that the women were ready to stage a nude protest if the government failed to intervene.
“We are the original settlers of Lagos. Our ancestors moved from Ilaje to Ebute-Ero, formerly called Olobun. If the government refuses to meet our demands, we will strip ourselves and storm the palaces of these monarchs. We want peace, and we want justice,” she said.
Egbe Omo Ilaje Accuses Monarchs of Land Grabbing
Rafael Irowainu, President-General of Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide, accused some monarchs of abandoning their traditional roles and turning into land grabbers.
“Some royal fathers falsely claim that President Tinubu sent them, but we know he did not. These actions are fraudulent and lawless,” he said.
Irowainu further alleged that some of the monarchs fueling the crisis are not indigenes of Lagos but originally from Osun and Ekiti States.
“None of these monarchs built Lagos. Yet, they oppress us because of political advantage. How can a king demolish people’s homes without legal authority? We are the true indigenes of Lagos. We are Yoruba, not strangers,” he added.
He warned that demolitions without court orders would only worsen insecurity and homelessness, calling on the government to compensate affected families.
Landlords and Families Count Their Losses
Another protester, Wole Adewusi, lamented that many landlords had lost their homes and properties, leaving families in hardship.
“Our wives and children are suffering. We are appealing to Governor Sanwo-Olu to rescue us from these so-called Obas who have turned into land grabbers,” he said.
Ilaje Leaders Warn of Political Consequences
The Lagos State Chairman of Egbe Omo Ilaje, Prince Oluwajimusu, condemned the demolitions as a deliberate attempt to erase Ilaje heritage in Lagos.
“You cannot write the history of Lagos without mentioning Ilaje as one of the first settlers. What is happening is unjust to our people. We will not continue to live as slaves in our own land. By 2027, we will decide our political future,” he said.
Conclusion
The Ilaje community has vowed to resist what they describe as an attempt to wipe out their ancestral heritage. With threats of nude protests and political repercussions ahead of 2027, the crisis underscores rising tensions between traditional rulers and indigenes over land ownership and heritage in Lagos.
