Notable traditional rulers and stakeholders from Eti-Osa Local Government such as Oniru of Iruland, His Royal Majesty Oba Abdul Wasiu Omogbolahan Lawal; Ojomu of Ajiranland, HRM Oba Tijani Akinloye; former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; and others have kicked against the proposed Lagos Assembly Delineation Bill that seeks to delineate and readjust the five administrative divisions in the state.
Rising from a stakeholders’ meeting at the Eti-Osa council headquarters on Wednesday, 10 February, 2021, they were unanimous that any attempt to take them from their ancestral Lagos Island division to Epe division will be resisted.
Curiously, the two lawmakers representing the Etiosa constituency 1 and 2, Hon. Noheem Adams and Gbolahan Yishawu who also spoke at the meeting said they were not the sponsor of the bill, neither did they know the source.
The origin of the bill is still shrouded in secrecy whether it is Private Member Bill or Executive Bill.
This medium also learnt that the first and second reading of the Bill was done on the same day, fueling speculation that there must be more to the proposed bill than meet the eye.
The public hearing has been slated for Friday 12 February 2021.
The community alleged that there’s something fishy about the bill which was rushed and members recalled from a recess to come for the public hearing.
It will be recalled that Lagos state is divided into five administrative divisions namely: Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe with the acronym IBILE.
One of the leaders at the meeting who spoke under anonymity said they would prefer that they increase the number of divisions to ten or create Etiosa division instead of lumping them with Epe.
The Delineation Bill also proposed that Alimosho local government be excised from Ikeja and moved to Badagry division.
It’s not clear the purpose the proposed bill is meant to serve, but sources revealed that it may be in preparation for 2023 general election.
Mr. Adewale Sani, a Leader of Eti-Osa Heritage Group, who read the communique at the end of the stakeholders meeting said some leaders have been selected to join their two representatives during the public hearing slated for Friday, 12 February, 2021 to express their displeasure that Eti-Osa will not be disposed to such bill that will take them from their ancestral home to Epe.
They are also to interface with other leaders with the view to convince them that lumping Eti-Osa with Epe division will not be in their best interest.
The four man committee comprise of: Alhaji Owolabi Yisa, Chief Abayomi Daramola, Mr Adewale Sani and Olisa of Ikateland, Chief Elegushi. The communique also said that more leaders may be added to join the four man committee on Friday for a robust public hearing.
The Gazelle News.com learnt exclusively that due to the furore generated by the opposition to the Bill, the Assembly has cancelled the proposed Public Hearing.
The new proposed Delineation in the Bill
Ikeja division
Ikeja
Agege
Oshodi
Ifako ijaiye
Mushin
Ikorodu division
Ikorodu
Somolu
Kosofe
Lagos Island division
Lagos Island
Surulere
Apapa
Mainland
Epe division
Epe
Ibeju lekki
Etiosa
Badagry division
Badagry
Alimosho
Amuwo Odofin
Ojo
Ajeromi Ifelodun
