RESIDENCY –V– RESIDENCY: The Lagos question

By SEYI CLEMENT

Must those representing Lagos be indigenes?

That is the question that we Lagosians must ask ourselves between now and 2027 and even beyond.  This question is most peculiar to Lagos given our cosmopolitan nature not just because Lagos is the commercial hub of the country, or the former capital, but because Lagosians are accommodating, multicultural and multiethnic.

However, we are now asking ourselves if these attributes that we are so proud of have led to the malignment of the State’s indigeneity.  We have now found ourselves in a situation where the holders of the 3 highest political offices in Lagos State are all non-indigenes.  A survey of members of the National and State Assemblies representing Lagos State reveals that over 47% are non-indigenes.  The situation is worse at the local government level, a phenomenon unimaginable in any other State.

The malignment of the State’s indigeneity has been so pervasive and pervading that some even question the indigeneity of the State.  This phenomenon is responsible for the claim that “Lagos is no man’s land”.     A claim which not only disparages the State’s history and culture, but is iinflammatory at the very least.

That Lagos has benefitted more than most from immigration due to the accommodating spirit, sense of openness and fairness of Lagosians is undisputed.  Immigrants have helped to shape Lagos to perhaps the most cosmopolitan city in Africa, with an economy bigger than that of Ghana, for which Lagosians are grateful.  Nevertheless, the inclusivity and the gratitude of Lagosians does not denude us of our indigeneity.

This disquiet of Lagosians over this malignment has led to the debate of whether persons aspiring for political offices in Lagos should be indigenes or is it sufficient if they are resident in Lagos.

Estimated groups of Lagosians and individuals like the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, and Supo Shasore SAN have waded into this important question.  The Foundation has come on the side of indigeneity.  The Foundation is  concerned not only to remind us that Lagos is not denuded of indigeneity, but it also seeks to prevent the occupation of political offices in the State by  those whose emotional and spiritual commitment to Lagos is suspect.  This position has led to accusations of “far right” tendency against the Foundation by Lekan Sote in an article published in the Punch issue of 7th August 2024 under the title, “The Imaginary Yoruba far-right”.  I believe that such a charge is at best misconceived. Born out of the author’s ignorance of the meaning of “far right” at best or at worst mischief making.  I suspect the latter, as  Mr Sote juxtaposed the position of the Foundation with the repugnant “Igbo Must Go” claim by some deranged persons. A claim which every Lagosian rejects and condemns.

Shasore SAN as a lawyer took the legalistic position on this issued by coming on the side of residency.  He argued that any Nigerian resident in Lagos, who works and pays tax to the State, has the right to aspire for any elected post in Lagos.  In my view, this is rather simplistic and does not address the fundamental sociological question raised by many Lagosians and echoed by the Foundation.

Shasore SAN’s position has led to a situation where non-indigenes use political offices in Lagos simply as stepping stones for aspirations in their own States. Senator Solomon Adeola aka “Yayi” and Hon James Faleke are examples of this phenomenon.

The question confronting Lagosians is how to prevent this “use and dump” phenomenon by non-indigenes without compromising on the very nature which has made many non-indigenes call it “home” and worked tirelessly to develop the State?  Ancillary to that this question is how can we get more Lagosians to via for political offices in Lagos.   I recall that in 2019 when I first contested the House of Representative seat in Surulere II, of the 7 contestants, I was the only indigene.   In 2023, of the 6 contestants there was no indigene. The reason for the lack of participation by indigenes requires an in-depth analysis, which I am glad to announce that Shasore SAN and his team are working on, but in the meantime, Lagosians need to step up or put up.

Seyi Clement
Proudly Lagosian.