THE FreeLagos Movement, an amalgamation of various informal interest groups who live, work and play in Lagos has reiterated its resolve to free the state from stranglehold of individuals that have turned the state into their private enterprise. 

Addressing a press conference Friday in Ikeja, Lagos, the group stated that in the past 16 years, the state has witnessed the annexation of Lagos state resources into an estate of one man leading to government for one rather than government for all. 

     According to group, there have been widespread complaints of highhandedness and witch-hunting made by Lagos residents from all walks of life, part of which gave the idea for FreeLagos Movement.

     The co-convener of the group, Mr. Akintoye Branco-Rhodes said that the FreeLagos Movement is an advocacy group that believes that the free spirit of Lagos must be retained, sustained and maintained  

Branco-Rhodes stated that in seeking answers to malaise in Lagos state, it is clear that certain things happen because there are vested interests that have taken Lagos hostage and privatized the state’s resources to the detriment of the people. This led to the convergence of like-minds across political, religious and ethnic backgrounds for the birth of FreeLagos Movement. 

He said, “Free Lagos is a movement for all time, which was designed for all intents and purposes, to outlast all governments and regimes in Lagos State. It is deliberately conceptualised to call Lagos politicians and governments to order whenever they stray out of line or develop a messiah complex.”

“The movement was given fillip by the observed and observable massive corruption and wanton greed that have been the hallmark of politics and administration in Lagos State, since 1999. We are determined to unearth the primitive acquisition and the mindless land grab which Lagos State had witnessed since 1999. And we have no apologies for doing so. 

 Speaking on the group’s game plan in executing its objectives, Dr. Adejuwonlo Ekundayo, said there are two essential gifts God has given to humanity, and that being the gift of life and the gift of freedom. 

       “We will engage in continuous and intensive communication with up to five million residents of Lagos within our data base, using available opportunities. We will mobilise groups and individuals to be volunteers/foot soldiers of our strategies. Other communications include website operations, social media platforms — Facebook, Hashtags, and WhatsApp. There will also be road show/road trek and concerts.