BASHORUN J. K. Randle has described the latest demolition of his property in Onikan area of Lagos State by the government as “unkind and unfair to the Randle Family.”
He also claimed that the family owned the land where the state secretariat was built and had not been paid any compensation till date.
Randle also said he was still expecting the state government to apologise and compensate him for demolishing the building.
While speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on the telephone on Monday evening, he said “I expect that the governor will issue an official statement, sometime between today and tomorrow because he is actually dealing with a legacy issue.
“For the last hundred years, the Randle family had contributed to development in Lagos, starting with my grandfather. He was looking out of the window in Marina and saw a man defecating in the open and he protested to the colonial master to build public toilets.
“When they refused, he started building public toilets all over Lagos and some of them are still in place today. You can see them at Ajele, at the back of the Cathedral Church and Iddo.
“Even the place where the Lagos State seceratriat was built belongs to the Randle family. They have never given us any compensation. You can go and check the fact.”
Speaking on some other exploits of the family, he said his father contributed to education, sports and other developments in the state, adding that “my father was a contemporary of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He contested an election under the Action Group and lost but he organised a party for the winner at Island Club. Politics is an opportunity to serve and that is what the Randle family is noted for.”