Otodo-Gbame residents storm Ambode’s office over alleged injustices

SCORES of residents of Otodo-Gbame community on Wednesday stormed the Lagos State Governor office, Alausa to once again protest their forced eviction from their riverine community and other forms of injustice suffered.

The protesters, who converged on the Lagos State Government House before 12 noon, said they were demanding justice over a whole range of injustice they said they had suffered over the years, including the government’s refusal to honour a court judgment, as well as loss of their loved ones and property.

They blocked all entrances and exit points leading to the governor’s office, saying nothing but an address by the governor himself would make them budge.

Some of the protesters who spoke with Tribune Online explained that a year after the first phase of the forced eviction of over 30,000 people from the community, the Lagos State Government was yet to implement any relief or resettlement in line with its own promises.

“One year after the first phase of violent and unconstitutional forced evictions of over 30,000 people from Otodo Gbame, the Lagos State Government is yet to implement any relief or resettlement of evictees in line with its own promises and the judgement of Hon Justice S.A. Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court,” the evictees said.

Many of the protesters were seen displaying leaves and placards containing various inscriptions, including one that said “Compensate Us. Resettle Us.”

The protesters who, according to information gathered had the support of the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation, designed diverse statics to drive home their demands, including sitting directly in front of the main gate leading to the governor’s office, displaying and wearing leaves on their bodies, as well as singing and dancing.

“I don’t have a single cloth, as all my property and belongings have been destroyed in the demolition. I don’t have anywhere to sleep anymore. After voting him into power, is this how Ambode wants to repay us?” one of the protesters whose name couldn’t be obtained, said.

Another protester, who was simply identified as Daniel, lamented that he lost a friend and his means of livelihood to the demolition exercise.

“Help us ask Ambode what we did to deserve all that he has made us go through. I’m a tailor, but I have been reduced to nothing. I lost a friend in the process. Please help us ask Ambode what he wants to achieve with all these,” Daniel lamented.

As at the time of filing this report, no known government had come to address the protesters, except for some of the security personnel on duty who could be seen trying to calm them down.