Lagos Is Not Tribal Property – Omoyele Sowore Opposes Street Renaming Including Charly Boy Bus Stop

Omoyele Sowore, a renowned Nigerian activist and politician, has openly criticized the recent decision by the Lagos State Government to rename certain public landmarks and streets in the state.

According to a video circulating widely on social media, government officials were seen announcing the renaming of the iconic Charly Boy Bus Stop to Olamide Baddo Bus Stop. This unexpected move has sparked widespread outrage and backlash from Lagos residents and well-meaning Nigerians across the country. Many believe the action was politically motivated rather than driven by genuine urban reform or community development.

In his official reaction, Sowore released a statement on Saturday expressing his disapproval. He described the renaming campaign as a xenophobic and divisive agenda, which he claims is being executed to marginalize certain ethnic communities and punish those who do not align politically with the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party in Lagos.

Sowore emphasized that the strategy and manner in which these name changes are being implemented do not reflect an ordinary urban development exercise. Instead, he sees it as a deliberate political maneuver aimed at furthering a tribal and exclusionary narrative in one of Nigeria’s most ethnically diverse cities.

Highlighting the broader implications, Sowore stated unequivocally that Lagos is not the property of any particular ethnic group, urging for the immediate reversal of the decision. He called on citizens to resist what he described as an increasing trend of authoritarianism disguised as civic policy.

“These changes must be undone immediately,” he demanded.
“The people of Lagos and Nigeria at large should stand against this silent drift into ethnic division masked as public order,” Sowore concluded.
He firmly added: “We will not sit back quietly while Lagos is turned into a tool for tribal, political, or ideological marginalization.”