His confidence was charming, despite his ignorance

A Storytelling of the Tenancy Law of Lagos State, 2011.

He revealed that the various housing estates built by the state government to address the housing needs of the residents of the state at the time were sabotaged and shared by senior government employees and political appointees.

In Nigeria, one of the many places where you can get honest feedback on government policies and related events is the beer parlour. Not much could be heard at local cafeterias. People are always too busy and careful when devouring their meals. Either they do not want pepper to enter their brains or the meal itself is too spicy. Another place is on the public bus.

There is always someone who seems to know with certainty how a policy was made. You would likely be convinced. Sometimes, such discussions may lead to arguments and the exchange of words. Funny, whatever information or opinion is shared suddenly takes on a life of its own.

I do not like joining in such conversations. I know that someone who sounds so convincing can never be at the decision-making table. He or she is just another news subpeddler. There is no likelihood that they will be there. And if they had been part of the decision-making, they would most likely not engage in revealing and reviewing it in public with total strangers. Plus, the discussants are likely too fanatical about their views. So, I consider it pointless to dissipate energy in such a discussion.

I remember shortly after the Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011 was enacted, I was taking an early morning bus ride to Ipetumedu in Osun State from Lagos State for a criminal matter at the magistrate court. On the bus, a well-groomed middle-aged man started a conversation on the housing deficit in Lagos State and referenced the new Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011.

He believed that the law was not adequate to address the housing needs of the people. He revealed that the various housing estates built by the state government to address the housing needs of the residents of the state at the time were sabotaged and shared by senior government employees and political appointees.

I disagreed, but I held my peace. The purpose of the law and the building of estates by the state government were different. I have a deep understanding of the law, having read it more than five times before that day. I know nothing about the various estates he referred to.

I was not done with this thought process when someone from the back countered that what the man had said was false. He stated his reasons, more like an attack, but goofed by submitting that the law applied to all premises in Lagos State.

The middle-aged man asked, ‘‘Which law?’’ The young man retorted, ‘‘The same law we are talking about’’. He does not know or remember the name of the law. ‘‘The Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011?'' I interjected.

At this point, I do not know how to intervene or what to say.

The young man had become a star of the moment. Many people on the bus nodded in his support. A lady even confirmed his faulty assertion. I smiled in disbelief from where I sat in front of the bus beside the driver. His confidence was charming, despite his ignorance. The people in his support are equally ignorant of the law and the subject matter.

The middle-aged man had withdrawn, defeated. He stammered, saying that he was certain that the Tenancy Law does not apply to all premises and areas within Lagos State.

The argument has now been narrowed to the Tenancy Law of Lagos State, 2011. Hence, there would not be any conjectures.

I gave a brief background predating the law and explained that the Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011 does not apply to all premises and areas in Lagos State. A lazy reader or impatient listener is unlikely to consider the exceptions in the subsequent sections of Section 1 (1), which say the law shall apply to all premises within Lagos State, including business premises and residential premises.

The subsequent sections 2 and 3 specifically exempted some areas and premises. I emphasised

The young man attempted to further stamp his ignorance in a rather provocative and rude manner. ‘‘I am a lawyer’’ I added. Not wanting to rise to his bait. The middle-aged man had now lightened up. My intervention sealed the debate.

The middle-aged man introduced himself as a civil servant in a popular ministry in the state. ‘‘Oh, I see’’. Someone exclaimed. ‘’Why would people share for themselves houses built for the citizens?’’ Another queried. The middle-aged man theorised how the government could successfully implement housing schemes for residents.

I do not agree that the tenancy law would in any way address the housing deficit in the state. It would curb, to some extent, the crises of notorious landlords and rogue tenants. The takeaway from his explanation was that government policies do not succeed, not because the policies are not good, but because they are always sabotaged by some people.

While he explained, I interjected several times to answer questions from my fellow travellers. I must have answered more questions during that travelling hour than I did in the law school final exams.

I was happy that I was able to contribute to the discussion. However, I deliberately failed to answer one question. I pretended to be attending to a more important matter on my phone despite repeatedly being asked, ‘‘Which areas and premises are exempt?

I did not want to make conjectures. The next question, already asked by a schooler, was why these areas and premises were exempt. I also know I would likely explain tire, and I honestly do not have the energy.