Obasa: Importance Of Cautious Public Statements by Authorities

In view of the fleeting nature of state power and the need for public office holders to be careful of their statements, this editorial reviews recent statements credited to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

Obasa has recently declared that the state parliament will pass new property, and business ownership laws in the state to favor Lagos State indigenes in obvious disadvantage of non-indigenes.

Obasa stated this in his acceptance speech as a third-term speaker of the Lagos parliament and the inauguration of the 10th Lagos assembly on Tuesday. 

Recall that many residents of Lagos were allegedly divided along ethno-political and religious lines during the last 2023 general elections.

“Lagos is a Yoruba land as against the assertions of some people that it is a no man’s land.

“Therefore, part of our legislative agenda is to ensure the translation of laws passed by this House to the Yoruba language,” he added. 

According to the speaker,  the new land and property laws only favour indigenes.

“We also aim at achieving our collective goals of creating a robust legislative framework that protects the interest of our people.

"Going forward in this wise, we are going to employ all legislative instruments for the support of the indigenes of Lagos.

“There would be laws and resolutions in the areas of economy and commerce, property and titles, and we will reverse all that is reversible to protect the interest of the indigenes.”

The Crux of the Matter

The obnoxious statement 'Lagos is no man's land' is a statement that played around the lips of most non-Lagos indegenes living in Lagos (Yorubas and non-Yorubas alike) and was birthed by the status of Lagos State at the time being the capital of Nigeria, playing host to all Nigerian citizens.

Naturally, as the federal capital of Nigeria it beholved on all Nigerians (whether Yorubas or not, Lagosians or not) to contribute immensely to nation-building from Lagos State dependling on individual and corporate capacities.

So, this notion of contributions to nation-building by all stakeholders, despite tribe and tongue, set the stage for the wide use of the now notorious mantra, Lagos is no man's land.

This mantra as we know it today has never been an exclusive construct of the Igbo-speaking people of Nigeria living in and transacting business in Lagos State. 

However, owing to a long-skewed hypothesis pitching the Yorubas against the Igbos as well as the victory of the Labour Party (a party believed by some as an Igbo party) in Lagos State against President Tinubu (Lagos being perceived as his strongest enclave), political mischief makers turned the whole narrative upside-down against the Igbos using the notorious mantra as their main weapon.

And it did not just work out nicely, its dusts are yet to settle.

It was on the heels of the crises and backlashes arising due to this political machination that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, recently played another trump card of sensationalism during his acceptance speech as a third-term speaker of the Lagos parliament and the inauguration of the 10th Lagos assembly on Tuesday.

Conclusion

It is very important that all Lagos State stakeholders (especially those in power) bear in mind that Lagos retaining its status as a cosmopolitan city as well as an erstwhile federal capital territory remain an all-players enclave.

This does not add up in any way for anyone to think that Lagos, as a physical entity, belongs to no one except the aborigines.

The mantra, Lagos is no Man's Land, is only rhetorical and never literal.

Therefore, visiting mayhem on a certain tribe on the basis of this notorious mantra is not only babaric but wicked, crude, and heartless on the part of the champions of this crusade.

In view of the statements by Obasa, it needs also be stressed that power is ephemeral and those in authority need to be careful with public statements such as will not haunt them or their generations after exiting power. 

There is the need for recognising the importance of responsible communication for individuals in positions of power.

Public statements have the potential to shape public opinion, influence policy decisions, and impact relationships with various stakeholders.

Therefore, the lessons in the ephemeral nature of power emphasize that authority can be fragile and easily eroded by ill-considered or insensitive remarks.

It underscores the need for those in positions of authority to exercise caution, thoughtfulness, and empathy when making public statements, as their words can have far-reaching consequences.

This opinion serves as a reminder of the impact that effective communication, accountability, and sensitivity play in maintaining trust and credibility in positions of power.