A US-based Nigerian, Remi Adeleke, has claimed that Banana Island located in Lagos state originally, belonged to his late father before been forcefully snatched by the government.
Adeleke disclosed this in a Twitter post shared on Tuesday, July 4. He noted that his father returned to Nigeria from the UK in the 80s, with the initiative to invest his resources.
He added that the government unjustly claimed all his father’s assets, including his landed property, which was later named Banana Island.
He wrote, “My Dad left Nigeria in his late teens to be educated in the West
After completing his bachelors and Masters in the UK, he created multiple businesses in the West and generated more wealth than he could have ever imagined.
“Dad brought all his talents and expertise back to Nigeria with the hopes of creating a World Trade Center/African Wall Street.
“When I was born in Nigeria I was surrounded by wealth, servants, opulence and two loving parents who despite having it all, modeled the importance of hard work, never being a victim and never being satisfied with mediocrity.
“In 1987 the Nigerian government illegally and corruptly stole all of my dad’s assets, including his man made island that’s now worth billions and was renamed to Banana Island.
“While fighting the Nigerian government in court, he mysteriously died weeks later.
We went from rich to poor over night. Mom brought my brother and me to America
“ It wasn’t easy, as we literally started from the bottom in the Bronx
My brother and I applied what our parents instilled in us at an early age, and despite the plethora of mistakes I made, we both became very successful.
Without the opportunities Americ has afforded my family, I’d be nothing.
“Yeah, Americ isn’t perfect. We have our issues, just like every other country on the planet, but America is one of the handful of places in the world where you can start with nothing, put in the work, and end up at the top.
“ I love this country, and I’m not ashamed to say it. And the moment I feel otherwise, I’m gonna pack my stuff up, teach my kids a new language and seek life elsewhere.
With that said, #HappyIndependenceDay #4thofjuly”
