I had an appointment with His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Lagos today.
L G News Academy had sent an invitation to his Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan to kindly attend the forth Coming L G News Academy's An Evening of Tribute to Alhaji Lateef kayode Jakande.
I got to Iga Iduganran and looked for where to park. I found a spot and was about navigating into the space when four guys came from no where.
"Oga five hundred naira before you park"
One of them said in a guttural and most intimidating voice.
I ignored him and parked. I had a discussion weeks back with Hakeem Disu, the council manager of lagos Island Council who had complained bitterly about the activities of 'area boys' who collect illegal parking tolls from unsuspecting motorists. This was playing out live in front of me.
I ignored them, parked and walked into the Oba's Palace.
After my meeting, I looked around Lagos island and felt so sad.
I saw containers discharging lightings, electrical fittings and other goods. I saw affluent looking Igbo boys directing those discharging the goods into stores and ware houses.
I was overwhelmed with gloom. While Igbo boys control multi million naira businesses in the heart of my village, Lagos island, haggard looking Yoruba boys pumped up with weed, were hustling for five hundred naira illegal parking fees.
Yoruba boys are the 'keke' drivers and petty traders. This is Lagos island, my village, the Yoruba nation. I wonder how many big time Yoruba traders are in Aba or Onitsha.
The Igbos have bought several buildings in my village. They run the economy of Lagos island. They dictate the prices of what we consume in this city.
I recall the Deputy speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun told me years ago how he bought 'keke' as part of his empowerment programme.
A couple of weeks after distributing them, almost all the beneficiaries had sold them for far less the cost price, preferring to continue hailing politicians for peanuts.
Hate them all you can, Igbos are more valuable to the state than many Yorubas. At least they pay taxes and help grow the state economy.
Who did this to us Yorubas? Lagos, a land flowing with milk and honey, yet we, the owners of the land, are tenants and petty traders .
Is this not sad?
Yoruba ronu!
By Tunde Jakande
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