𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐮 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱.

𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐮 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱.

𝐁𝐲: 𝐀𝐣𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢-𝐈𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐧 𝐏𝐃𝐏

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐮 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐣𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢-𝐈𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐧.

𝗜𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟬, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗧𝗔 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗹𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗸𝗲𝗷𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁, 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘆𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗮, 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗯𝘂, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗹𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗷𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶-𝗜𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁.

The Parents-Teachers Association (PTA), guardians, and community leaders condemned the Lagos State Government for what they described as “inhumane and insensitive” demolitions of schools, including those in Tolu Complex, highlighting the devastating impact on children’s education and the displacement of people who had developed these areas without government support.

Parents and guardians of approximately 5,000 registered public-school students at Tolu School Complex in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State petitioned the Court of Appeal in Lagos to restrain Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Commissioner for Environmental and Physical Planning from demolishing any of the schools or relocating students and teachers elsewhere in the state.

In September 2000, the Ikeja High Court, which was led by Justice Adebayo Adesanya, restrained the Lagos State Government from demolishing schools located within Tolu Complex in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Education District (LED).

The court also ruled that the government, its agents, and other respondents must cease all threats or actions aimed at displacing the schools in Tolu Complex. The judgment further restrained the Nigerian Police from harassing community leaders.

The schools are located within a large expanse of land in the Local Education District (LED), comprising 16 junior secondary schools, 15 senior secondary schools, and 5 primary schools.

The Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has consistently challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government on its approach to governance, community welfare, and the protection of local assets, often alleging that the ruling party fails to appreciate those who fought against the demolition of Tolu Complex by the Lagos State Government under Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The PDP has also accused the APC-led government of neglecting community leaders who resisted the demolitions. While specific cases may vary, the PDP broadly criticises the government for using simplistic approaches, such as demolition or school closures, instead of engaging with community leaders.

History will never forget those community leaders who fought against the Lagos State Government. The legal victory did not come easily; it was the result of sustained efforts by committed individuals who stood firmly against the demolition of Tolu Complex Schools. They include:

𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗔𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗸𝗲.
𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗢𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝘄𝗼𝗹𝗮. 𝗢𝗹𝘂𝘄𝗮, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘂 𝗢𝗹𝘂𝘄𝗮.
𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗔𝗹𝗵𝗮𝗷𝗶 𝗦𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝗶𝗼.
𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻 𝗞𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘂
𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮.

Also recognised are those still living who contributed significantly to the struggle:

𝗠𝗔𝗠𝗔 𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗚𝗕𝗢𝗡.
𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗙 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗔 𝗔𝗝𝗘𝗟𝗘.
𝗗𝗥 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗢𝗡. 𝗢𝗟𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗣𝗨𝗣𝗢 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗜, the lead legal practitioner who successfully led the case against the Lagos State Government
At the time, the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Executive Chairman, Prince Rabiu Oluwa, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo (State House of Assembly), Hon. Olu Ogunbanjo (House of Representatives), and Supervisor Hon. Yusuf Adeniji supported the Lagos State Government, as they were all members of the same political party (AD). They were also present in court in support of the government. Today, however, they are seen celebrating the commissioning of the schools in Tolu Complex, despite their earlier support for the government’s demolition plans.

According to counsel for the PTA and the community, Barrister Oladipupo Wilson Diriwari, the state government intended to allocate the disputed land for the construction of luxury apartments, thereby jeopardising the livelihoods and heritage of the indigenous people.

He emphasised that although the government has authority over land under Section 1 of the Land Use Act, such powers must serve the public interest and include fair compensation where necessary conditions,l which, according to the community, were not met. These properties, if built, will be sold at exorbitant prices and some share among top political gladiators.

After many years, the Lagos State Government initially released the land for educational purposes, leading to the construction of schools for the benefit of community children in Tolu Complex. However, the government later proposed demolishing the schools to build luxury apartments and housing estates.
This reversal was the main reason community leaders opposed the government’s actions, describing the decision as contrary to the overriding public interest.

Dissatisfied with the High Court judgment, the Lagos State Government appealed the case. However, the Court of Appeal upheld the earlier ruling, restraining the government, its agencies, and the Nigeria Police from further threats or unlawful demolition and eviction of schools in Tolu Complex in Ajeromi-Ifelodun communities.

Barrister Oladipupo Wilson Diriwari, counsel to the community, reiterated that the schools had been under severe threat of demolition, with attempts to allocate the land to a private developer for the construction of luxury apartments, without any compensation or resettlement plans for affected residents.

The judgment brought relief to the community, which had long endured threats to its children’s education and harassment of its leaders.

Barrister Diriwari further stressed that schools in Tolu Complex, as well as those in other underserved communities in Lagos and across Nigeria, deserve improved social services rather than displacement for the benefit of land speculators.

The Ajeromi-Ifelodun PDP therefore urges both the local and state governments to recognise and honour the aforementioned community leaders, describing them as heroes of democracy in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Their efforts helped preserve the schools, reduce community tensions, and contributed to improved infrastructure, including the recent renovation and commissioning of the Tolu Complex schools.

he Ajeromi-Ifelodun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expresses deep appreciation to all those who fought against the demolition of these historic schools. Your selflessness is an inspiration to us all, and your tireless efforts to uplift the community are truly commendable.We are grateful for your service to humanity. Your work resonates deeply in the hearts of the people of Ajegunle, and it is because of your efforts that these historic schools still stand today for the benefit of our children.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 √® 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐢 𝐈𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐎𝐦𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐣𝐚 . 𝐆𝐨𝐝’𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 💪.𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒚 (𝑷𝑫𝑷) 𝑨𝒋𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊-𝑰𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑮𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂. @highlight