The residents of Ilasan Estate in Eti-Osa local council area of Lagos State have said that they are ready to dialogue with the state government if it is ready to settle amicably.
The Secretary to the Maroko Evictees, Mr Benson Oketola said: “We need to be settled. We need a house, a shelter over our heads. They should not throw us away. This is what we are appealing to the government if they want us to leave here.
“We know the government owns the land. We are not agitating. They should know that they collected something from us before Ilasan was given to us by the government. This is why we are appealing to the government.”
The BOI Chairman of Ilasan Housing Estate, Mr Morudiu Kolawole said they are trying to engage the government to resolve the matter amicably.
“They have not given us a cogent answer yet. We can’t fight the government, rather we should appeal to them. It is on the appeal we are. But they have promised to do something which we are still expecting.
“The first option is regeneration. That is to regenerate this place for us. If they cannot do that let them give us a befitting environment. That is what we want from the government. But our main option is to remain here in the estate.’’
“It is now left for the government to dialogue with us. We agree to disagree. Nobody wants to live in a slum and already here is a slum. During the rainy season, we don’t normally enjoy it here. Everywhere is waterlogged. We want to live in a habitable environment,” he said.
The residents recalled that Justice Chukwudifu Oputa once urged the Lagos State government to apologise to the Maroko evictees that were resettled in Ilasan/Ikota and other places in Lagos State following the demolition of their abode by the military government in 1990, but the state declined to do so.
The issue led the victims to file many lawsuits through their counsel, Dr Felix Morka.The Maroko evictees that were settled in Ilasan are now calling on the governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to resolve the matter amicably in line with his promise during his campaign at Ikate.
