Lagos belongs to the Yorubas – Tinubu aide, Bwala, backtracks after backlash

By Adetayo Omotoyosi 

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has recanted his earlier statement that Lagos is a no-man’s land. The Lagos Voice reports that the media aide to President Tinubu remarked during an interview with Arise TV, reacting to a report that N2.9 trillion was spent on projects in Lagos State.

Bwala’s statement generated intense criticism on social media, especially from South-Westerners who have been contesting the statement for ages. However, Bwala has now taken to his X account to clarify his viral statement. He explained that Lagos State has historically and culturally been part of the Yoruba culture.

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He added that Lagos is unique, like New York, Paris, or London, which serve as the commercial nerve centres of their respective economies.

“Culturally, historically, and constitutionally, Lagos belongs to the Yoruba people, and that has never been in contention. The unique identity of Lagos as a Yoruba homeland is settled and beyond dispute.”

“What I emphasised was the special place Lagos occupies in Nigeria and indeed West Africa — a city that, much like New York, Paris, or London, serves as the commercial nerve centre of our economy. Lagos provides every Nigerian, regardless of origin, a level playing field to thrive, and in this sense, it mirrors the diversity of our nation while remaining firmly rooted in Yoruba heritage.”

“My argument was, therefore, and justifiably so, for massive investments in infrastructure to sustain the economic and social responsibilities Lagos has shouldered on behalf of Nigeria. Any President who truly seeks to succeed must critically support Lagos, not because it is “no man’s land,” but because it is the heartbeat of the nation’s development.”