Adeshina Ogunlana, Ikeja Branch Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has alleged threats to his life for spearheading protests against the new Land Use Charge by the Lagos State Government.
Ogunlana told newsmen on Monday in Ikeja that his privacy and that of NBA Ikeja Branch had been breached due to surveillance placed on his home and office.
“For about seven days now, we have noticed mounted electronic surveillance “eyes in the sky” devices, commonly called drones over the NBA Ikeja Branch Secretariat, the home and work place of my humble self, as Chairman of this branch.
“Clearly, those responsible for the invasion of my privacy, illegal surveillance untoward and cowardly harassment is none but the government and her agents.
“The harassment of the leadership of this branch by security agents on behalf of the government is a vindication of our position.
“Which is that our political leaders and those who hold high governmental offices are not democrats.
“For they do not understand or appreciate that the dynamics of democracy include a vibrant opposition and principled dissent.
“We have cried out to alert the public as to this present danger against myself, family members, friends, colleagues and associates.
“We know about the static killings and murders of various persons like Dele Giwa, Bola lge, Alfred Rewane and the uncleared indictment of the Nigerian Government in the dastardly acts,” the Ikeja NBA chief said.
On its efforts to prevent the increase of the Land Use Charge, he said, “we have commenced town hall meetings and consultation with Lagosians and it’s an ongoing exercise.
“Nothing much has been heard from the side of the executive arm of government beyond serving notices of payment of the Land Use Charges on Lagosians and trying to coax out payments from them, with very limited success,” he said.
He said the NBA Ikeja branch had sent a letter of enquiry to the Lagos State House of Assembly for updates on legislative efforts over the passage of the Land Use Charge Law.
As the 2019 elections gradually approaches, NBA Ikeja urged Nigerians to shun violence.
“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians, especially all progressive forces, to speak out and act against the orientation of violence of some politicians, we cannot leave politics only to the politicians,” he said.
He said that the NBA Ikeja Branch would be having a walk to protest the growing political violence in the country at the end of May. (NAN)