The usurpation of the exclusive functions of local governments on street naming by certain individuals and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State cannot be justified under the Nigerian Constitution,
The renaming of the Charley Boy Bus Stop, a historically significant location named by the people of Bariga and Gbagada, without community consultation, the action is disrespectful to both local residents and cultural memory.
Charley Boy Bus Stop acquired its name sociologically due to its functionality and the positive impact which Charley Boy has historically made in the area,” he noted.
Renaming it without consulting the Bariga and Gbagada people smacks of authoritarianism.”
Lagos State has retained street names celebrating colonial figures linked to oppression and exploitation, yet finds time to replace names that honour Nigerians who contributed positively to society.
I call on local government legislative arms across Lagos to stop the arbitrary renaming of public spaces, and instead institutionalise public hearings and legal processes before any such decisions are made.
Streets should not be renamed arbitrarily to please the whims and caprices of political leaders or to promote ethnic chauvinism, especially in a cosmopolitan capital city like Lagos,
There should be due process and democratic engagement, unilateral renaming undermines community identity and violate constitutional principles.
FEMI FALANA (SAN)
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