Written by Kola Johnson (Staff Reporter for Lagos Mainland Repairer )

In those good old days, Mainland Local Government occupied a special place in the colonial history of Lagos state.

Apart from Lagos Island, which was then the seat of the British Colonial administration, the old Lagos Mainland local government ranked as the earliest bastion of civilization. It was the strategic link between the Lagos Island and other parts of the state, which were then a far cry from Mainland in terms of their gross un-developed nature.

In those days, streets like Wakeman, Paty, Olonode Thoborne, Commercial Avenue, Araoti, Montgomery, were like paradise of a sort. Serene, tranquil, quiet, exotic, beautiful, clean and well planned.

No wonder therefore that it became the popular resort of top officials of the British Colonial civil service who saw it as a conducive haven for habitation.

Prominent people who lived in the area then, include Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikwe, the celebrated politician, nationalist, fiery orator, journalist, publisher of the famous West African Pilot and first indigenous Governor General of Nigeria. At that time, Zik had his residence at Herbert Macaulay Street in the Alagomeji area, directly opposite the African Continental Bank (ACB), also owned by him.

The wave-making West African Pilot, owned by the great politician and used by him as a vociferous instrument against colonial rule, was then situated in the Sabo area, just a stone throw from Zik’s residence. Lagos City College, which became one of the famous secondary schools in the nation, and also owned by Zik was also situated in Sabo.

Other celebrated personalities associated with the area were Chief T.O.S Benson, the flamboyant politician, lawyer and Minister who with his wife, Chief Mrs. Opral Benson, the Iya Oge of Lagos, lived around Thoborne Street, close to Sabo. Opral Benson Beauty Institute owned by Mrs. Benson is also situated in the same Thoborne Street, even to date. His brother Bobby Benson, a celebrated musician and pioneer prodigy of the High-life music, who ruled the waves in the 50’s till his death in the early 80’s also lived in Moleye area, near the popular Casino Cinema.

Chief Bode Thomas, a co-founder of the Action Group and bosom friend of Chief Obafemi Awolowo lived in present day Araoti Street and the show biz impresario and owner of SilverBird, Mr. Ben Bruce and his siblings lived and grew up under their parents around Commercial Avenue.

Not to be left out in the fray, were the likes of Cyprian Ekwensi, the renowned writer who lived at Olonode Street; Brigadier- General Mobolaji Johnson, first military Governor of Lagos State, also grew up in Wakeman Street, and attended Yaba Methodist Primary School; Lt. General Oladipo Diya, Ex-Chief of General Staff during the Abacha administration, also grew up in the Abule- Ijesha area and attended Yaba Methodist Primary School.
Veteran labor leader, Pa Michael Omnibus Imoudu, lived in Simpson Street. It was from his residence that he organized the stormy 1945 Railway strike which shook the bastion of the colonial authorities to its foundation.

Chief Bola Ajibola, ex- Attorney General of the Federation, distinguished Judge of the World Court and Proprietor of the Al- Hikmah University, Ogun state lived and grew up in Okobaba, area of Ebute-Metta.

Haruna Ilerika, ace soccer maestro, one of the greatest footballers Nigeria has ever produced and easily the most celebrated figure in school boy soccer, lived, grew up and died in Borno Way. It was in the same Borno way he lived, during his famous exploit at the 1976 edition of the African cup of Nations, otherwise known as the Battle of Dire- Dawa, where the Green Eagles bagged a Bronze medal for the first time in the history of the Nations Cup.

Ex-Internationals in the persons of Yisa Sofoluwe, popularly known as Chief Defence Minister, for his defensive prowess, and Obafemi Martins, the Nigerian born professional soccer prodigy in Europe, also lived and grew up in the Mainland area.
Of course not to be left out were such distinguished citizens like Alhaji Femi Okunnu, ex-Federal Minister of Works during the Gowon administration. He lived at Adams Street, while Alhaji Y.P.O Shodeinde, the Islamic minister of high repute and the longest writing columnist in the history of Nigerian journalism lived in the Alagomeji area.

Not the least amongst the distinguished league of Mainlanders were Otunba Femi Pedro, ex-Deputy Governor Lagos state, who lived at Oloto street Ebute Metta, Chief Henry Ajomale, A.P.C. Chairman, Lagos state, Naval Chief Rear Admiral Elegbede, who lived and grew up in Kadara street near the Oyingbo Market.
Unbelievable but real, was also the fact that the distinguished wizard of the theatre, Hubert Ogunde of blessed memory lived in Noble street, around the Alagomeji area while the distinguished nationalist and politician, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya also lived in Apapa road just as Chief Ebenezer Babatope, the notable politician lived with his father, the late Reverend Babatope in the same Apapa Road.

Those were the good old days when the old Mainland was at the zenith of its fame and glory.