Why Knights is at ‘war’ with the Federal Housing Authority
Defending the poor and voiceless in our society is a task that must be done by God and by humanity.
In our world, with around 7 million people, the weak and the poor, who are the majority, must be protected from the strong and powerful.
Yes, there are millions of concerned people, non-governmental organizations, corporate entities and government agencies, etc., doing their part to defend the poor and the weak.
This is pious, humanitarian and therefore acceptable.
In Nigeria, with an estimated population of 180 million people, these helpers are useful by the thousands, if not millions.
Comrade Olusegun Adeeko, President/Lead Activist, Know Your Rights Initiative, Ikotun, Lagos, is one of many.
He maintains hard-line positions against economic crimes, corrupt practices and human rights abuses. Call it a one-man riot squad, if you mind.
On Monday, Adeeko invited me to cover a peaceful protest by members of her NGO and mechanics in the town of Festac in Lagos, Nigeria.
Peaceful banners carried by members of the knowrights and mechanics held the protest at the South West Zonal Office of the Federal Housing Authority in Festac Town, Lagos, Nigeria.
Their mission was to demand that the housing authorities investigate how Ms. Aisha Onotu, allegedly in collusion with police in Festac and suspected land grabbers, illegally sold land in the buffer zone to interested individuals.
The background check conducted by this writer revealed that 12 years ago, the officials of the Festac Village Residents Association observed that the people of the housing were illegally selling land to some people.
The residents dragged the housing authority before a Lagos High Court on 21 November 2005 in Case No: ID/2494/1993.
12 years into the legal battle line, the Hon Justice (Mrs) Y. A Adesanya delivered her judgment and the court asked members of the mechanics’ union in the Festac buffer zone to continue to hold their jobs.
However, the Knights leader, in a letter dated April 18, 2019, asked the independent commission on corrupt practices to investigate the area manager of the federal housing authority in south-west Nigeria.
The manager, Onotu, is alleged to have corroborated with one Thomas Tanimowo to issue the rent to the illegal bidders and also issued a notice of removal to the mechanics to vacate the land, despite the high court ruling.
This writer visited the federal housing authority office on Friday to see and hear from the area manager on the matter, but was told the woman did not have an official assignment.
Police at various levels in our country have been informed and the national headquarters of the federal housing authority in Abuja, Nigeria is also aware.