The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu has decried the perceived neglect of Lagos state by the federal government, and demanded an urgent redress of what he described as ‘’injustice’’.
The Oba made this known request while receiving the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, in his palace.
The President’s wife, who is on a two-day visit to the state, paid a coutesy visit to the monarch, where she was accompanied by Senator Florence Ita-Giwa and wives of both Katsina and Bayelsa state governors.
The King described Lagos state as a “mini-Nigeria” as it hosts every tribe in Nigerian from across the federation, noting “there are a lot of pressures on the infrastructural facilities available in the state, owing to the daily influx of people from the six geo-political zones.”
Oba Akiolu pleaded with the President, that “the state does not deserve marginalisation” as he stated that “the federal government has not done much for the state.”
He further urged the president to fix all the federal roads in the state, which he described as eye sores.
Described Lagos state as the nation’s economic nerve centre, Oba Akiolu also enjoined the President to release all the property and money due to the state for development.
He warned the President to halt the Boko Haram threat before it spreads to other zones.
Oba Akiolu also advised the President to see Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as partners in progress, instead of relating to them as members of the opposition.
The First Lady told the King that that she was in Lagos to thank the people of the state for the support they gave to her husband during the last election.
Mrs. Jonathan noted the expressed grievances and promised to convey them to the President.
She also gave the assurance that the President will reciprocate the kind gestures of Lagosians.
