Post by Honorebu on Mar 23, 2016 2:57:29 GMT
Lagos used to be the capital of the most populous black nation, Nigeria, but Abuja, north of the country became the new political headquarters in 1992. However, no place in the country can rival Lagos in the volume of commerce, aquatic splendour and scenic beauty — buildings of diverse heights and architectural beauty, network of roads, oceans, rivers and lagoons. Also seaports, airports, schools and people of all colours peacefully represented in all facets of life. Also places of historical relevance— National Arts Theatre, National Stadium, National Museum, slave camp in Badagry, Freedom Square, Tafawa Balewa Square and Tinubu Square. Tinubu Square, a broad open area in the centre of Lagos, popularly described as the ‘Centre of Excellence’ has the shape of a square, an object globally accepted to have four sides and taught so in mathematics classes. Both day and night, it never closes its door to a sea of visitors who stream in either to enjoy its hospitable features of a lovely pan-Nigerian environment where people can sit to rest after a long and tiresome walk in the city or a place which serves as a rendezvous of friends of like minds, mostly residents of Lagos Island known in the lingo of the environment as ‘Islanders’ or ‘Lagosians.’
Among the crowd of people whose daily haunt is Tinubu Square are: hawkers, beggars, drivers, artisans, drummers, politicians, students, public workers, the jobless and so on. Jimoh Adisa, a motor technician, who graduated from one of the state’s technical colleges, during a chat, told Arts Lounge: “This place has provided an avenue to meet and discuss, because when other Islanders arrive, we debate and discuss politics, economy and business. I think it is a good centre for us to socialise. Also, we discuss how we can produce more Madam Tinubus.” Without doubt, Tinubu Square is an addition to the beauty of Lagos scenes, but what is beautiful about the place is not people darting here and there, assorted commercial activities going on 24/7 in the environment or the arriving cars, buses, lorries and trucks of different makes, sizes and colours departing or pulling up, which are mostly laden with goods made in different climes, but its spic a span well-lit environment beautified with tropical trees and exotic flowers and its strong foundation laced with colourful, strong interlock blocks.
Most interesting to any keen eye at Tinubu Square is a free flow of bright and colourful water sent into the air from fountains like spiritual ‘shower of blessing.’ The water goes straight into the air to a height as high as 200 metres before it falls like rain on earth. Also boosting the colour of Tinubu Square are dozens of pigeons, birds of promise and peace common in towns and cities, which have heavy bodies, small heads, short legs and long pointed wings. Unlike other birds of the air, these special creatures fated to be at Tinubu Square, have a ‘house,‘ instead of nest, their natural habitat, where they comfortably rest, peacefully sleep and abundantly feed . Most outstandingly beautiful and generally confirmed by visitors is the statue of Madam Efunroye Tinubu, a matriarch, leader and warrior, whose heroic activity in Nigeria won her a place in the history book of Nigerian nationalists.
Madam Tinubu, the first Nigeria woman to buy a car, was a courageous human rights activist, outspoken person, fearless, strong woman, a warrior from Egbaland in Abeokuta, Ogun State. She’s also fought for the Egba people in order to gain their freedom; in recognition of her bravery, she was honoured with the chieftaincy title of Iyalode of Egbaland. She was among those who helped Akintoye to get to the throne as Oba of Lagos. She fought against Dahomey, when they were tormenting the Egbas; later she left Lagos in 1856 during the reign of Dosunmu. She died in 1887 and was given a befitting burial by the Egbas. After her death in 1887, the place was named after her, because in 1807, when the British prohibited slave trade she and some other Nigerians immensely contributed to make sure the law against the inhuman practice was successfully carried out because Lagos was a stopping point along the slave coast.
The government of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, later transformed it into a beautiful landmark and tourist attraction. Tinubu Square provides a flexible nexus of streets— Broad, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ali, and Customs – on the island of Lagos, where various commercial activities take place. Adjacent to the square are the nation’s former apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria, which is still heavily guarded by security forces, different business houses like banks, finance houses, insurance companies, goods distribution outfits, departmental stores; also present are churches, government offices, hospitals and sundry traders that line the various streets, most conspicuous are the dealers in foreign currencies, who advertise their trade by softly calling dala, dala, dala to canvass for buyers or sellers of foreign currencies, and road transport workers and crowds of textile traders. Activities around Tinubu Square are not limited to buying and selling, because the area is the traditional home of some people.
The oldest resident, 76-year-old Mr Eric Awobiyide, a former worker at Western Nigeria Ministry of Finance, said Madam Tinubu was not just an ordinary woman, but a strong and notable warrior who was based in Lagos but a native of Abeokuta. Commenting about the monument over time, he said, ‘’Tinubu Square is not like before. Things have really changed. Looking at the surroundings, environment, birds (pigeons) are not there again; mostly the so-called Tinubu fountain was a court before, but now it is a wonderful place where people pass through day by day, also traders trade over there, different companies, organisations work around there,” he said joyfully, but dissatisfied with the current state of the square. Speaking with one of the traders at the area, Chief Ayo Akindele, a wrist watch seller, he said that Tinubu Square is a memorial which must not be put to wrong use because the brave woman warrior and a national heroine who struggled and fought for some changes made it possible for area to be created. He also emphasised on how Tinubu Square look now, saying ‘’Thank God for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who rebuilt and transformed the fountain.
It is now a nice place where people will like to stay, have fun, take pictures. The place has really been expanded.’’ Since 1887, Tinubu Square has undergone many transformations while its face has continued to change as various governments tried to rebuild or modernise it to rival other squares in the world like Trafalgar in United Kingdom. Former Lagos State Governor and the head of All Progressive Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is well-mentioned by Lagosian as a political ruler who gave the monument a well-deserved facelift, changed the name to Tinubu Fountain Square, made the environment of the fountain so comfortable for people to meet, sit, and relax, shoot movies, take refreshments or read newspapers or journals. Surrounding Tinubu Square today are not people who buy and sell only, but shops housing several goods, mostly imported and a large number locally made; also there are different banks; from the old Nigeria’s apex bank, Central Bank of Nigeria, many commercial banks, mortgage banks and finance houses welcoming millions of people or customers into their halls, who come to save their money or come for other banking businesses. Adjacent to Tinubu Square are different organisations, companies.
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