Our Reporter
Bariga Local Council Development Area immediate past Chairman, Kolade David Alabi, in one of his administration’s parting actions renamed some streets, and a bus stop in the area.
Two of it, Charly Boy Bus stop to Olamide Badoo Bus Stop and Ilaje Street to King Sunny Ade Street do not enjoy general traction.
On the part of that of Ilaje street, which previously bore the name of the ethnic group, the community took to protest in objection to the change on Wednesday.
“They now want to rename Ilaje Street to King Sunny Ade Street, when we have Ondo Street in Ebute Meta. Why not rename that one if they truly want to honour him? This is a war against the Ilaje people,” the President General of Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide, Raphael Irowainu told Punchng .
Irowainu in the remarks attributed to him also said: “It was a calculated attempt by the political elites and some Yoruba ethnic groups to erase the historical and cultural involvement of the Ilaje people in the creation of Lagos State.
“The Bariga community was founded in 1948 by our great-grandfathers. The entire place was like a forest.
“They were the ones who made the road before the state government took over later.
“The Ilaje are among the three early settlers of Lagos State —alongside the Awori and Ijebu.
“We are not strangers. We are Yorubas just like any other Yoruba. Ilaje is a recognised sub-ethnic group in Yorubaland.”
