PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE CIRCULATION
The Lagos State Chapter of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has received with deep concern the reports that residents of Oworonshoki, in sheer desperation, were compelled to block the Third Mainland Bridge in protest against the ongoing demolitions that have rendered many homeless and hopeless.
We stand in solidarity with the ordinary people whose only crime is that they are poor and powerless in a city where governance has become increasingly detached from the pains of the governed.
The scene of mothers, fathers, and youths taking to one of the busiest highways in Africa is not a sign of unruliness – it is a cry for survival.
When government policies displace citizens without adequate consultation, proper compensation, or humane resettlement plans, the people are left with no option but to raise their voices in whatever way they can.
The ADP’s Position:
1, Human Dignity First:
Every Lagosian, regardless of social class, deserves dignity, security, and respect. A government that demolishes homes without genuine resettlement plans is a government that prioritizes concrete over compassion.
2, Consultation, Not Compulsion:
Oworonshoki residents, like millions of others in similar communities, are not against development. They are against being erased from their own land without dialogue. Development should be inclusive, not destructive.
3, Displacement Breeds Distrust:
By destroying the homes of the poor while sparing the estates of the wealthy, the government has deepened the feeling of exclusion and injustice in Lagos. This is a dangerous precedent for peace and stability.
4, Alternatives Exist:
Global best practices in urban renewal offer models of redevelopment that protect the vulnerable. Land sharing, phased redevelopment, and low-cost housing integration are viable solutions Lagos has failed to pursue.
Our Call to the Lagos State Government:
Immediately suspend further demolitions in Oworonshoki and similar communities.
Commence open dialogue with community leaders, traditional institutions, and residents to arrive at people-centered solutions.
Provide temporary shelter, relief materials, and a clear resettlement plan for those already displaced.
Enshrine equity by ensuring that redevelopment projects do not become tools for land grabbing or political patronage.
Our Call to the People of Lagos:
We urge Lagosians not to be silenced. Your voices matter. Your resilience matters. Lagos does not belong to a privileged few – it belongs to all of us. What happened in Oworonshoki is a reminder that unless we stand together, any community can be the next target.
The Action Democratic Party reaffirms its commitment to being the voice of the voiceless, the defender of the oppressed, and the conscience of Lagos.
We believe in development, but not at the expense of the very people for whom development should exist. Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.
Oworonshoki is not just a community – it is a mirror showing the failures of governance in Lagos today. And it is also a rallying call for change.
Our Promise:
As the new face of opposition in Lagos, ADP will continue to demand fairness, accountability, and compassion in governance. We shall stand with the people in their struggles, and we shall fight for a Lagos where progress does not come by sacrificing the poor but by lifting them.
Let it be known: demolitions without justice will meet resistance. But governance with empathy will earn trust. Lagos deserves the latter.
Signed:
Hon. Uwandu Wilfred
State Publicity Secretary Action Democratic Party (ADP) – Lagos State
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