Oshodi-Isolo paradox: The ‘stranger’ empowers his kinsmen — by Baba Awori

Let us stop hiding behind the weaponized political correctness of “diversity.” What is happening in Lagos State politics is not a “melting pot” or “inclusion”—it is the open-daylight stealing of Lagos State Indigenes ancestral political rights, packaged as a convenient lie so we hand over our wealth with a smile.

The recent brazen publication by Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, Imo State indigene representing Oshodi-Isolo—where he proudly listed the constituents he sponsored to China using our resources, has predictably triggered my fellow Yoruba folks. The list heavily favored his own kinsmen. But as an Awori man, my anger is not just directed at his audacity on my ancestral land. My anger is directed at the rot inside our own house that allowed it to happen.

Historically and administratively, Lagos State is roughly 84% Awori ancestral land, with the rest belonging to the Ijebu and Ogu people. Our Kings, like the Osolo of Isolo, are fully recognized, and our roots run deep. Yet, today, the true indigenes are treated as political spectators on their own soil. Why? Because the foundation of this hijack was laid by Yoruba non-indigenes. Politicians from Osun, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti migrated here, hijacked the local political machinery, and pushed the indigenous Awori to the back of the bus. They took our loyalty for granted, neglected the grassroots, and created a massive political vacuum.

By breaking the wall of indigenous representation, these Yoruba “strangers” left the door wide open. Today, non-Yorubas have simply walked in to claim the prize.

This broken system allowed non-Yorubas to easily step in and claim the spoils. Today, we are seeing the results: Okey-Joe Onuakalusi in Oshodi-Isolo, Thaddeus Attah in Eti-Osa, and historical precedents like Oghene Egoh in Amuwo-Odofin.

If you want to understand the sheer tragedy of this, look at the political directories for Nigeria. In Imo State, 100% of the political representatives—Senators, House of Reps, and Assembly members—are indigenous Igbos. They fiercely protect their ancestral land and resources. Yet, an Igbo man can leave his fully represented home state, ride a political wave into Awori territory, and take federal allocations (which are heavily funded by Lagos revenues) to empower his own tribe.

And here is the scariest part: Okey-Joe’s China list was made public. He didn’t even try to hide it. If this level of brazen ethnic favoritism is what they have the audacity to do in broad daylight, imagine the contracts and resources being quietly siphoned behind closed doors.

But this brings us to the most painful, bitter truth that the Yoruba political establishment must swallow. Yes, Okey-Joe Onuakalusi is taking Awori resources. But at least he is actually using them to empower his own people! He is sending his kinsmen abroad for training in Elite Agriculture, Cyber Security, and Artificial Intelligence. He has a clear agenda to build the future of his demographic.

Now, I must ask our Yoruba non-indigenes who have monopolized Lagos politics for decades, and the few Awori politicians who manage to hold seats: What are you using your own “stolen” mandates for? Where are your own lists of Awori youths being sent abroad? What community are you building?

The tragic reality of Lagos politics today is this: the outsider who captures our resources is at least investing them to build his tribe, while our own so-called “Yoruba brothers” and local leaders pocket the funds to build mansions for themselves, leaving the grassroots empty-handed.

We can cry about Okey-Joe’s audacity on social media all we want. But until the Awori and true Lagos indigenes wake up, clean out the local political establishment that sold us out, and demand our rightful percentage of representation, our ancestral wealth will continue to be shared by everyone else but us.