LAGOS AT 50 CHAIRMANSHIP:WOLE SOYINKA GETS BACKING OF COALITION GROUPS

A group, the Coalition of Ibile Professionals on Tuesday came out strongly to defend the choice of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka as co-chair of the Lagos at 50 Celebration Committee.

According to a statement released by its General Secretary, Alhaji Wasiu Hassan, the group described members of Eko Foundation as rabble-rousers and noise makers seeking cheap publicity and attention for relevance.

Alhaji Hassan stated that Lagos State is made up of five divisions namely Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe, adding that all the divisions are relevant for the progress of the state.

He condemned insinuation that indigenes had been marginalized just because some Eko Foundation members, who are exclusively from the Lagos Island division, have lost out in the search for appointment.

He said that the Lagos Island division enjoyed the seat of power in Lagos for the last eight years as against other divisions, and that the Coalition of Ibile Professionals will resist any campaign of calumny against Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who he said has been successfully balancing the state affairs and appointments to the excitement of all divisions of the state.

Alhaji Hassan vowed that members of Coalition of Ibile Professionals shall not fold their arms and allow the so-called indigenes with foreign names to usurp stable and peaceful co-existence in the state.

He said: "How else can one describe the President of Eko Foundation, Professor Oluwole Smith, who failed to qualify on the short list for Lagos State University (LASU) Vice Chancellorship in the last selection process or is it Mrs. Teju Philips or Mr. Lawal Pedro who have non-indigene antecedents, and cannot therefore claim to be more saintly than the Pope.

"We should be grateful for having Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi and Professor Wole Soyinka appointed by a Governor who has recognized their qualities to add glamour and depth to an international event for celebration of a cosmopolitan city like Lagos.

"Eko Foundation should purge themselves of their base and narrow sentiments if they expect to be taken seriously. Enough is enough," Alhaji Hassan said.

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