By By Olasunkanmi Akoni and Monsur Olowoopejo

Ahead of 2015 general elections, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and the paramount ruler, Oba of Lagos, Riliwanu Akiolu 1, Friday, urged the Federal Government to return the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS to the original owners, Lagos, saying, “the central government was given the edifice to manage.”

They spoke at the launch of a book on law and justice, titled, ‘Possession,’ authoured by former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Olasupo Shasore, held at the City Hall, Lagos, which also had in attendance, the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, Former Federal Commissioner for Works, Mr. Femi Okunnu.

Also in attendance were; former Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Interior, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia and Mr. Ademola Seriki, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, among others.

On return of TBS, others to Lagos
On the need for the Central Government to return TBS edifice to Lagos, Fashola said, “So when people tell me that they have sold Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, I laughed because they did so in absolute ignorance. It can never be sold.

“That use to be part of the land that belongs to the king of Lagos. And with the conquest and possession of Lagos, it became crown land administered by the British Crown.

“At the end of the colonial era, it was passed on to the Federal Government. And when Lagos was created along with other 11 states, it became state owned land.

“All lands that were inherited by the Nigerian Government from the British government were further handed over to the states which those lands where.

“And the only legislation that exists today on the place was the TBS management act. With this act, the Federal Government was given the managerial power and not the ownership of the facility,” the governor added.

Akiolu on Shasore and heritage
Akiolu who spoke in Yoruba and English language, however, was not categorical on whether he had dumped support for Akinwunmi Ambode for Shasore in the race for next year’s governorship election, even as he said, “There are many things that were taken unlawfully from us.

He added that they will look at the issues that have deprived Lagos State some of its benefits especially some of the heritages of the state.

According to him, “I prayed that I do not want to be the inspector General of Police but the Oba of Lagos and God did it. I also prayed that the former governor of Central bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, should assumed the throne of his father and God answered the prayer and this that we are about to accomplish, will come to past.

“The one that we are facing now, “Ibiti olohun ati emi Oba gbesi, ibe ni oma lo, (where God and I, Oba Akiolu want support, that is how it will be),” he added.
Explaining Shashore’s lineage, “You all are calling Shasore today, but many do not know that he is a grandson of the land owners in Lagos.

“His grandfather, Rufai Ojoye Shasore was to be the Chief Oluwa of Lagos in 1913, but intrigues from some people did not allow him to assume that post. The man took all that happened in good fate but Oba Faolu was not happy.

“The grandfather of Shasore and Oba Faolu’s mother, Adeogun were related to that palace. This was why immediately Oba Faolu became Oba of Lagos, he appointed Supo Shasore’s father as the Shasore of Lagos.