The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, recently stated that there are plans to pass new property and business ownership bills in the state.

Development Diaries reports that Obasa, who spoke during his inauguration as the speaker of the house for the third time, insinuated that related existing laws would be reversed to protect the interest of indigenes.

He said, ‘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 indigenes.

‘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’.

Making laws that will favour only indigenes is like telling non-indigenes to move away from the state and that can only lead to the economic downfall of the state.

It must be noted that section 41 of the 1999 constitution provides for the right to freedom of movement of every Nigerian.

It reads, ‘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’.

Furthermore, every citizen of Nigeria is allowed to purchase and own property in any location without hindrance under section 43 of the 1999 Constitution.

Therefore, the speaker’s comments are not in line with the Nigerian constitution.

Development Diaries calls on the Lagos State House of Assembly to step down bills that are not supported by the constitution of Nigeria.

We also call on Obasa to refrain from making remarks that have underlining ethnic sentiments and are divisive.

Photo source: Mudashiru A Obasa