Could it be true that the Senate was already reconsidering the bill seeking special status for Lagos? So soon? The only good thing is that the bill is being reconsidered, otherwise, the inevitable question is “what happened to induce a change of mind among majority of the senators who killed the bill last time, since it is now inconceivable they will reject the bill for the second time?

The rejected bill had earlier been sponsored by the member representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Oluremi Tinubu. That was a bill, which could and indeed should have been sponsored by any member in a genuinely cohesive nation. How long ago did the same Senate virtually unanimously sponsor and approve a bill for the reconstruction and economic development of North-East Nigeria? That was a part of the country devastated in the past decade by Boko Haram insurgents. Passing of the bill for the reconstruction of North-East Nigeria was a nationalistic approach, which should apply to a genuine need in any part of the country.

What is more, in contrast, Lagos was not destroyed by insurgents. Rather, infrastructural degradation, more of total collapse, was caused by the Nigerian government’s neglect of its statutory responsibility to the former federal capital. Senator Remi Tinubu’s bill was, therefore, not a favour-seeking effort deriving from its antecedent. Lagos originally took off as a colony and became part of the defunct Western Region as well as Nigeria’s capital, separated by the colonial administration in 1954 to become federal capital territory, and then Lagos State.

Popular demand during the civil war for the shifting of the federal capital from Lagos eventually ended in Abuja as the new alternative as broadcast by Gen. Murtala Mohammed on February 3, 1976. Movement to the new capital, Abuja was effected almost 16 years later, December 12, 1991. Such historic developments in other parts of the world, Turkey, Brazil, the United States, Tanzania, etc., continued to maintain the special status of the previous capitals.

By the way, Lagos from the beginning never seemed to have a father figure but was ever blessed with God’s Grace all along. Endowed by the colonialists as capital even though simultaneously part of the defunct Western Region, compelling political circumstances and stiff rivalry between two giants of those days, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo, made Lagos a rich constitutional prize. Zik was backed by his supporters that Lagos must be separated from the West  (Gedegbe l’eko wa) while Awo and his supporters countered that “Lagos belongs to the West.” It was a hot debate that lasted for years not just among politicians but friends and even family members throughout homes in Lagos, marked by fun and harmony, unlike the violence of today’s politics. The sweetener was the regular change in the control of Lagos Town Council between Zik’s NCNC and Awo’s Action Group.

Down the line, a prominent Lagosian and member of the royal family, Prince Ibikunle Akintoye founded the Lagos State Movement with the sole demand for the creation of Lagos as the fourth region though labelled a state. This offered some fillip to the campaign of separating Lagos from the Western Region. The colonial administration was left with no choice than separating Lagos from Awolowo’s Western Region and Southern Cameroons from Azikiwe’s defunct Eastern Region, both in 1954.

Nigeria’s political crisis of 1966-67 strayed into creation of Lagos State by Gen. Yakubu Gowon, with Lagos as one of the senior 12 while remaining the capital of Nigeria. The threat to the security of Lagos during the civil war provoked the public demand for the shifting of Nigeria’s capital to the hinterland. Accordingly, the choice of a new capital fell on Abuja and, surely, not with any purpose to degrade Lagos in any shape or form. In fact, that very past of Lagos warranted the preservation of its special status. That was the background of Senator Remi Tinubu’s bill, which, it must be emphasised again, could have been sponsored by any senator from any part of Nigeria.

Surely, these senators in their debate of the bill never saw Lagos as Nigeria’s special historical property, whereas, it is. Hence, the usual affectionate claim that Lagos is no man’s land. Curiously, not one of those claimants could come to Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s aid to rescue the bill. If in their mind (legitimately too) Lagos is no man’s land, why were the senators cutting their nose to spite their face? Therefore, for the doubting Thomases, here is Lagos.

Lagos had always been a child catered for by the known and the unknown, as inimitable K.O. Mbadiwe would have put it. Indeed, Lagos is the desire of the average Nigerian, from wherever he or she is. All those who were responsible for the evolution of Lagos might not necessarily have been Lagosians but history has recorded them for their memorable contributions, the colonialists, Azikiwe, Awolowo, Gowon, and so on.

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Almost throughout its evolution, Lagos encountered opposition all the way and yet overcame. Even on this occasion, Lagos will live up to its reputation. Witness God’s blessing in the overnight transformation into an oil-producing state. At about the time it was being bluffed over its right to the status of a special one, Lagos collected its first cheque of accrual as an oil-producing state. Whoever bargained for that? So will goodies continue to flow towards Lagos. Those who enhanced the status of Lagos will so go into history as much as obstructionists will not go unnoticed.

Lagos, always on its own, remains outstandingly invincible. Lagos knows no inflation. Put a price on residing, Lagos is the only place in Africa where the customer does not walk away. Such is the attraction, more like a magnet. If in doubt, you definitely have not had a taste of the place. The pity, therefore, is not for Lagos but those who presume to be devaluing, diminishing or spiting Lagos in denying its special status. That status or not, and take note this will be attained either in their lifetime or not, Lagos moves on with God’s blessings into new and richer discoveries. For what Lagos was denied in the past, God compensated with the discovery of oil.

Therefore, it is futile spiting Lagos. Once upon a time, there was Federal Ministry of Lagos Affairs, which vanished with the creation of Lagos State and especially with the loss of dual status of federal capital to Abuja. But then, there is also the Niger Delta State and still the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. Since Lagos, therefore, lost its federal ministry, is the  compensation of special status anymore than chicken feed?

Leaving Lagos is never final for anybody. Try it and discover that a return journey is inevitable. Spiting Lagos to deny the place its entitlement? Lagos will not go on its knees. This place is not ordinary, being the only place in Nigeria and Africa. Lagos is courted for the good things of life, fun, sports, employment, accommodation, Lagos never sleeps and, therefore, is unavoidable. Lagos neither crawls nor cringes. And may God help Nigeria if Lagos sneezes.

Ever tasted Lagos? Guess what you are missing, as only those with the experience can testify, Nigerians and foreigners from all over the world. Not without reason, unlimited prospects, prosperity, highlife, weekend parties, slow moving traffic, if not gridlock, at unpredictable hours, day or night. Yet, Lagosians love the strange combination, even the slum and violence. Not worse than Harlem, Brooklyn, depressed areas of Chicago, Breston or Shepherd’s Bush. Yet, Lagos grows in strength and attraction for location and especially relocation after an initial exit.

Lagos does not miss its residents, high or low. Instead, residents miss the place and return eventually.

There was a haven known as Ikoyi. Then came Lekki Peninsula, followed by Banana Island, each conveying class and progress. The latest? Atlantic City, soon to become the status symbol for the same chaps who voted down Tinubu’s effort to ensure Lagos is not deprived its entitlement as an former capital.

Feeling rubbished? Remi Tinubu must self-console with her name in history for her guts in alerting the federal government on its responsibility to Lagos. It is up to any other willing person to match her.

Informing anybody where you are resident? Henceforth, tell them you live in the PLACE. From up country, tell the curious ones you are travelling to the PLACE. On further enquiry, tell them Lagos is the PLACE. Pass the message round because in any case, Lagos is the PLACE.