Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), yesterday, urged Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to desist from plans to make laws to protect some persons who claim to be indigenes and frustrate others living for decades in the state.

The group through its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said Lagos residents should not be punished for political considerations.
According to the group, every Nigerian has inalienable rights, including freedom to vote for any preferred candidate without being victimised on the basis of the choice made.

HURIWA noted that Section 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria protect the rights of all Nigerians to reside and trade in any part of the country without being witch-hunted or victimised.

The group stressed that the law mulled by Obasa and his fellow travellers in the State House of Assembly is satanic and undemocratic in all ramifications.
According to HURIWA, Speaker Obasa’s comment is so unfortunate and disappointing for a lawmaker who has been in the Lagos State House of Assembly for 16 years.

“His statement to make laws to protect the businesses of Lagos indigenes at the expense of others like Igbos is most condemnable and will be resisted by all lovers of fairness and democracy.

“Section 41 (1) of the constitution stated that every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.

“Obasa must desist from this path of doom and stop his subterranean moves to make any law that derogates from the constitutionally guaranteed rights of all citizens, including right to property, freedom of movement and right to freedom from discrimination.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s government must begin to govern the state and stop waging an imaginary war of political attrition against perceived voters who opted to vote for the Labour Party, which is legally permissible. Nigeria has suffered enough divisions, killings, violence and mutual suspicions.  Now is the time to rebuild the battered nation,” the group added.

Recall that Obasa had in his acceptance speech as a third-term speaker of the Lagos parliament and the inauguration of the 10th Lagos assembly, last Tuesday, stated that the state parliament would pass new property and business ownership laws in the state to protect indigenes.

According to him, there would be laws in the areas of economy and commerce, property and titles, and we will reverse all that is reversible to protect the interest of the indigenous people.

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

“We also aim at achieving our collective goals of creating a robust legislative framework that protects the interest of our people. Going forward, we are going to employ all legislative instruments for the support of the indigenous people of Lagos,” he added.