THE MAN AGBODEMU HIS WORKS AS AN HUMAN RIGHT ACTIVIST Mr. Agbodemu is a unique advocate for the human rights of slum dwellers in Lagos. His work as an activist began at the very local level – standing up to the traditional landowning family in the area when they tried to extort money from persons living in Otto Ilogbo. Later, he helped to register a Community Development Association (CDA) for Otto Ilogbo to enable them to access government development and empowerment programs. Facing down a threat of demolition of four communities, including Otto Ilogbo, by the Lagos State Government in 2011-12, helping his community face a scourge of violence and arson aimed at driving them off the land at Otto Ilogbo. One of the major thing that Agbodemu frowns at is the wickedness of man being done to fellow man, this was what made him to charge the Lagos State Government and the Lagos state Ministry of Environment and Enforcement Unit for attempting to demolish his community in 2011. Charging the case to court through Social and Economic Rights Action Centre (SERAC), which LAMCOFOR was operating under, the case was won. Hence, the threat of evicting the residents of the community came to naught. While carrying out his duties which is to stop injustice that man suffers, (even beyond his community) Agbodemu, who attempted to stop the residents of Temidire Community in Adekunle-Yaba from being forcefully evicted, was on December 23, 2010 shot in the neck. He happened to be one of the survivors while about three people were reported dead. With his determination to help the slums children, Agbodemu in 2012 created a school, Young Leaders Academy in other to help the children within the community access education since there is no school within or around the community. Young Leaders Academy was made affordable for all parents with adequate teaching facilities. In the whole of Ifesowapo CDA, there is no school, and the parents cannot afford to send their children to the schools far away from the community. This was what initiated the idea of creating learning facilities for the children in Ifesowapo. On several occasions, Agbodemu had spent several days and nights in cell for the main reason of seeking justice for people. The first time was in 2010 when he was trying to resist the residents of Temidire, Adekunle-Yaba from being forcefully evicted. Then he was shot in the neck at close range by police officers and was bundled into a ‘Black Maria’. Also in 2012, as regards to his humanitarian services, Agbodemu who helped a 5year old orphan, Ayo Olaniyi, and put him under adequate care of a caring family, through government and normal procedures, was falsely alleged to have kidnapped the child. This led him to the cell the second time, but after adequate and intense investigation, the allegations were proved wrong and he was released. The third encounter he had as regards going to cell, though not a criminal, was in 2012 when he and some other comrades embarked on a peaceful protest about the murder of a young lad during the fuel subsidy saga in January 2012 by officials of Lagos State Anti-Riot Squad (SARS). He was in cell together with some of those that embarked on the protest for one day before they were being released. His recent visit to the cell was in April 2014 when he was unlawfully detained at the Iponri Police station when he went to report the case of a suspicious fire incident that occurred in his community. Though he was the complainant, the police arrested him and he was not released until the next day, without telling him what exactly he has done wrong. Beyond his community, Mr. Agbodemu has increasingly led efforts to organize a human rights-based solidarity movement among informal settlements in Lagos. Since 2008, he has been an active member of the Lagos Marginalized Communities Forum (LAMCOFOR) and in mid-2012 he became its General Secretary and Public Relations Officer (PRO), guiding the Forum through an important and challenging set of transitions that saved it from collapse. He occupied these posts in the organisation because of his flair for development and his contributions towards the achievement of the organisation’s goals and objectives. In early 2014, he began to lead the Forum toward a more active path, independent of its longstanding “parent” organization – and, ultimately, to launch a new platform. The new Lagos slumdweller federation Rural and Urban Development Initiative (RUDI) brings together over forty poor and marginalized communities across Lagos in a self-help network that combines economic empowerment, community-led data collection, and human rights/legal support for its members. This federation has already helped several communities to face down threats of demolition. As parts of his humanitarian work, Agbodemu joined the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and worked in conjunction with the police force and other security agencies to keep his community and neighbouring communities safe from hoodlums and thugs. Agbodemu together with other members of the community volunteered to do the job, without being paid or collecting any form of incentives. Agbodemu was the Deputy Commander, Lagos Mainland Local Government Vigilante Chapter (2010-2013) and the Public Relations Officer (PRO) Lagos State Command, (2013 till date). The activist groups he has joined so far are: · Campaign for Democracy (CD) · PRO National Conference PRONACO · United Action for Democracy (UAD) · Citizen Forum CF · Mekunu Solidarity Forum (MSF) · Mainland Development Initiative (MDI) · Care Trust Foundation. Member and Vice President · Lagos Marginalized Communities Forum (LAMCOFOR). As a member of LAMCOFOR in 2008, Public Relations Officer in 2009, General Secretary in 2012 till 2014. · Rural and Urban Development Initiative (RUDI). Initiator and President CONVENNER: Slum Dweller Liberation Forum (SLF) CHALLENGES In the face of tyranny, the just suffers a lot of Incarcerations, Black mailing repeatedly. Lack of fund and ability to conquer growing monsters that affect personal aims and objectives. ACHIEVEMENTS · Recognised by members of community. · Ability to identify other genuine platforms and partnership opportunities to know more people and respond to their needs. · Set up community advocacy group and give workable advice and assistance. · Set up and partner with other Community Based Organizations (CBO) Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) to build four classrooms school for vulnerable and out of school students in Otto/ Ilogbo Community. · Setting up saving groups in 42 communities and monitoring their activities
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 18:38:12 +0000
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