The Ilaje community in Bariga, Lagos State, has vowed to resist the renaming of Ilaje Street after juju music icon, King Sunny Ade, accusing local authorities of attempting to erase their cultural identity and historical roots.
The renaming, announced last Friday by the immediate past Chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA), David Kolade Alabi, was part of a broader initiative to honour prominent figures who have contributed to the global visibility of Bariga. But the move has sparked outrage among residents and online critics, who view it as both insensitive and ethnically biased.
On Wednesday, members of the Ilaje community staged a protest, demanding the immediate reversal of the decision. They argued that the change disrespects their heritage and marginalises their people.
Speaking to PUNCH Metro on Thursday, President General of Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide, Raphael Irowainu, described the street renaming as “a calculated attempt to decimate the Ilaje people” and strip them of their historical presence in Lagos.
“This is not just about a name. It’s about erasing our roots. The Bariga community was founded in 1948 by our ancestors. It was a forest back then, and it was the Ilaje who first cleared and built the roads long before the state government took over,” Irowainu said.
He accused the Lagos State Government and some local actors of carrying out a broader pattern of marginalisation against Ilaje communities across the state.
“On March 7, parts of another Ilaje community were demolished with the involvement of the state government and certain individuals. In Oworonshoki, people sent by a monarch from Oworo also demolished Ilaje homes. Go to Majidun, it’s the same story. This is a systemic attempt to wipe us out,” he alleged.
Irowainu emphasised the Ilaje people’s role as indigenous stakeholders in Lagos, noting that they are one of the three earliest settler groups in the state, alongside the Awori and Ijebu.
“We are not outsiders. We are Yoruba like everyone else, and Ilaje is a recognised sub-ethnic group within Yorubaland,” he said.
He questioned the rationale for renaming a street in an Ilaje stronghold after King Sunny Ade, despite the availability of other locations more appropriate for such an honour.
“Why Ilaje Street? Why not Ondo Street in Ebute Meta, which directly reflects King Sunny Ade’s origin? This is not about honouring him — it’s about targeting us,” Irowainu said.
The community has already submitted a formal petition and is considering legal action. According to Irowainu, the LCDA lacks the constitutional authority to rename streets without community consultation.
“The Nigerian Constitution only recognises 20 local governments in Lagos, not LCDAs. Street naming is the responsibility of local governments, and even then, due process requires stakeholder consultation,” he said.
But defending the decision, former council chairman David Kolade Alabi said the renaming was aimed at celebrating individuals who have brought positive recognition to Bariga.
“As an administration, we reflected deeply and decided to honour individuals whose talents and contributions have placed our local council on the global stage,” he said.
Despite this justification, the Ilaje community insists the move is a slight on their history — and they are prepared to resist it by all legal means necessary.
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