Recent reports of the renaming of a popular Lagos bus stop historically associated with the “Charly Boy” may, on the surface, seem inconsequential. But beneath this seemingly innocuous decision lies a disquieting pattern, one that speaks volumes about the shrinking moral space and deepening ethnic nationalism threatening the unity of Nigeria.
While this act may not, in itself, raise immediate constitutional red flags, it is the underlying intent, the hidden political and ethnic undertones, that demands urgent scrutiny. In the face of a crippling economic crisis and widespread national disillusionment, one must ask: Why now? Why such a symbolic erasure, and what message is truly being conveyed?
Since the 2023 presidential elections, the Igbo community in Lagos has increasingly found itself at the receiving end of targeted economic policies, veiled threats, and cultural exclusion. A disturbing pattern has emerged: discriminatory enforcement of urban regulations, intimidation of property owners, selective demolitions, and now, symbolic disenfranchisement. These are not isolated incidents, they are symptoms of a broader political agenda.
A close friend of mine, an estate developer of Igbo origin, recently confided that his multi-million-dollar commercial properties in a prime Lagos location were abruptly marked and restricted from being sold, without a clear explanation. The reason? Ethnic bias cloaked in bureaucratic silence.
This is a direct affront to Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to move freely and reside in any part of the country. It also violates the spirit of Section 43, which affirms every Nigerian’s right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria.
But beyond legal rights, this is about dignity. This is about identity. This is about a people who, wherever they go, build, invest, thrive, and uplift others in the process.
The Igbo spirit is not tethered to geography. It is encoded in resilience, innovation, and enterprise. No amount of policy manipulation or cultural intimidation can undo what the Igbo did not beg to receive. We are builders, not squatters. Stakeholders, not strangers. And our identity is not subject to the approval of anyone.
Yes, perhaps it is time to think home, to invest more deliberately in the East. But let it be born out of empowerment, not fear; out of strategy, not retreat. Because try as they may, you cannot drive out those whose roots lie in every brick, every market, and every skyline of this nation.
Igbo bu ike.
