A US-based Nigerian man, identified as Remi Adeleke, has claimed that his late father was the original owner of Banana Island in Lagos state before it was ‘stolen’ by the government.
In a Twitter post shared on Tuesday, July 4, Remi revealed that his father returned to Nigeria from the UK in the 80s, with the aim of investing his resources to create an economic landmark in Lagos.
However, he claimed that the government unjustly and corruptly seized all of his father’s assets, including his landed property in 1987, which was later renamed Banana Island.
According to Remi, his father passed away in the process of fighting the Nigeria government in court. Subsequently, his mother had to relocate him and his siblings to the United States, where they started a new life with nothing to their name.
Read his full tweet below,
“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”
See below,
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 business in the West 🇺🇸🇬🇧and generated more wealth than he could have ever imagined.
Dad brought all his talents and expertise back… pic.twitter.com/zPP89yFgg7
— Remi Adeleke (@RemiAdeleke) July 4, 2023
