By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The now ostensibly eyes-open indigenes of Lagos State, who have since the return of democracy in 1999 been deprived from being allowed to govern their own state as guaranteed by the Constitution, have cried out against the ongoing plot for a final takeover of their state through unexplainable state policies.
By those policies with which non-indigenes from other South West states continue to stay put in Lagos State powers despite the constitutional implications, the indigenous Lagosians revealed that, having taken over their space, the ursupers of their opportunities are now busy increasing their land acreage through land reclamation with the ultimate aim to change the social order.
“They have taken over our space. Controlled our lands using state powers. Now they have installed compliant kings confusing our thoughts processes. Contained within a clique and curtailed information that will be beneficial for the social development of the state. Usurped our opportunities and are now busy increasing our ACREAGE through land reclamation with the ultimate aim to change the social order and the dynamics of the population in the state,” they said.
In the third release of the Lagos State indigenes, under the aegis of De Renaissance Patriots, a socio-cultural organisation established to lead a better state for themselves, they lamented the situation where misdevelopment of the state is eating deeper into their living system, enormity of the disaster at hand which, unfortunately, even some indigenes were yet to grasp.
Looking back to the past good days of their Lagos, the patriots, poised to bringing about a paradigm shift from the old narratives to a new order where indigenes rights are no longer negotiable, said the time for all indigenous people of the state to rise up and take back their state is now as failure can only lead totheir extinction and displacement in no distant time.
“In our earlier submissions, we have never hidden our glorious past as Omo Ibile Eko . The glorious past that our Lagos was: – Good upbringing. Good pedigree. Good education. Enviable service to our nation. Good mentorship and of course a sound and intelligent approach to social order where things worked for everyone. Infrastructural development that are reasonably costed, expedited and advantageous to public interest,” the group said.
And, for reason of the need to revive and reshape the state, the Group is more than before fully prepared to drive the course of emancipation with primary objective of ensuring that an indigene takes the next governor’s seat in Lagos State while their benefits of statehood they had enjoyed since creation of the state in 1967 until 1999 are restored.
With former Minister of Communications and General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Armoured Division Nigeria Army, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd), as its Protem Chairman; former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of defunct First African Trust Bank now in merger with Zenith Bank Plc and former Chairman of the Isale-Eko Descendants Union, Mr. Yomi Tokosi, as its Protem Secretary; and son of a late prominent Oba of Lagos and repository of knowledge in history and culture, Prince Adelani Adeniji-Adele, as its Coordinator, De Renaissance Patriots has shown that this time it is serious business and mobilises all others to come on the train for change.
In the new release titled, “THE LAGOS INDIGENES AND THE CASE OF SOCIAL MISDEVELOPMENT”, the group said, “The above topic is apt and at this stage, if you are an indigene or you truly love Lagos State, you should feel disheartened about current state of things.”
It said, “We resolved some months back to hold our peace with the thoughts that our people have not been taught enough lessons to wisen up to their current situation. However as concerned Omo Ibile Eko, we cannot continue to maintain that silence.
“The spirits of our ancestors will not let us. It is a calling that, like a good Ifa initiate or priest, one must speak out and say it as we see it at least for the sake of posterity. Ka le wipe a so iwonba ninu ikan ti Olodumare fi han wa.
“The Renaissance Patriots intends to use the trending issue of ‘fake’ indigenes (fraudulently taking advantage of our quota to get recruited into the Nigerian Army) to make our observations known. Would the issue of fake indigenes surprise you?
“Definitely, not us in this group. We have always known and have constantly stated that in this Lagos state, the indigenes by their own design, commission or omission have been conquered, subdued and turned into something our forefathers never thought would ever happen to us. Won ti get wa.
“To us and for the indigenous Lagosians, ours is a neat case of SOCIAL MISDEVELOPMENT in the state. Some of us are yet to grasp the enormity of the disaster at hand,” it said.
“Check our civil and public service. Check the local government administration. Check federal and state appointments, our foolishness and nonchalant attitude has caused this SOCIAL MISDEVELOPMENT for the indigenes. We are the joke of the whole country. The first three leadership positions are occupied by non-indigenes. It is a sorry state.
“We need a reappraisal of the systemic blot in that arrangement that deprives us of our rights as indigenes of the state. Our request on the reappraisal of whatever is in place is borne out of the revulsion we had while watching a video that had gone viral online revealing a number of candidates who are non-indigenes of Lagos State and were issued ‘Letter of Indigeneship’ to use the slots of Lagos indigenes in the ongoing recruitment in the Nigeria Army.
“Nobody would see and listen to the video and not be concerned about the violation of the constitutional rights of indigenes of Lagos State. We noted from the video that there is an ongoing indigenes’ recruitment in Lagos State into the Nigeria Army but the scandal arising therefore is a procedural wrong committed against our people. This, in our view, is constitutionally and democratically unacceptable and a big slap on the national goal of achieving peace and unity of the country.
“We have also taken note of the official comments from the Army on the matter. We are equally requesting the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, to please use his good office to look into this matter and, if true, interrogate and stop it. There must also be consequences for this criminal act.
“As for the Lagos State government and responsible agencies, they are implored to step in and stop those who dish out fake indigene identity to non-indigenous residents in Lagos State in general. In due course, we will come up with a position on what must be done to curb these abuses, the feeble and stupid excuses giving by those affected local governments not withstanding.
“That will not be the only issues worth noting and as one notable Lagosian stated while contributing to this discourse that:
“There are still serious issue pending investigations/answers especially as – a) We sell indigeneship; b) We sell land arbitrarily; c) We sell Chieftaincy titles; d) We sell everything with Lagos on it. The state itself is now on auction to the highest bidders. All thanks to the divisions and collaborations of some indigenes”.
“We will not blame our Obas only here. Your connivance with our oppressors made them ‘toothless bulldogs’. We reserve all due respect to know those whose hearts bleed.
““Your Lord is aware of what is in your heart, and how you behave towards His Creation. He is All-Forgiving to those who repent”. – (Qur’an 17:23-25)
“We can hear the call of our ancestors. CAN YOU? Even if you hear it what are you doing about it? The sad part is that they did their best for us when alive. Are you doing yours now and will you? You can start NOW!
“GO HOME. IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO BE A RENNAISSANCE PATRIOT. You can make that difference. Listen more to the people who mean well for us. It should not be about you all the time. Think Lagos and see what benefits the posterity and what your community, your being can gain from you by your singular action today.
“SAY NO TO STOLEN IDENTITY IN ALL RAMIFICATIONS.
“To those involved in the malaise in our polity and lives, we will get to you. Whoever thinks that the humongous ill-wealth will be the ultimate advantage, we make bold to say that history is on our side and peoples’ will, will be supreme.
“WE ASK ALL INDIGENES OF IBILE EKO TO BE A RENAISSANCE PATRIOT IN WORDS, DEEDS AND ACTION,” it said.
Read the Full Text of tge statement below:
DE RENAISSANCE PATRIOTS
THE LAGOS INDIGENES AND THE CASE OF SOCIAL MISDEVELOPMENT
The above topic is apt and at this stage, if you are an indigene or you truly love Lagos state, you should feel disheartened about current state of things.
We resolved some months back to hold our peace with the thoughts that our people have not been taught enough lessons to wisen up to their current situation. However as concerned Omo Ibile Eko, we cannot continue to maintain that silence. The spirits of our ancestors will not let us. It is a calling that, like a good Ifa initiate or priest, one must speak out and say it as we see it at least for the sake of posterity. Ka le wipe a so iwonba ninu ikan ti Olodumare fi han wa.
The Renaissance Patriots intends to use the trending issue of ‘fake’ indigenes (fraudulently taking advantage of our quota to get recruited into the Nigerian Army) to make our observations known. Would the issue of fake indigenes surprise you? Definitely, not us in this group. We have always known and have constantly stated that in this Lagos state, the indigenes by their own design, commission or omission have been conquered, subdued and turned into something our forefathers never thought would ever happen to us. Won ti get wa. To us and for the indigenous Lagosians, ours is a neat case of SOCIAL MISDEVELOPMENT in the state. Some of us are yet to grasp the enormity of the disaster at hand.
In our earlier submissions, we have never hidden our glorious past as Omo Ibile Eko . The glorious past that our Lagos was: – Good upbringing. Good pedigree. Good education. Enviable service to our nation. Good mentorship and of course a sound and intelligent approach to social order where things worked for everyone. Infrastructural development that are reasonably costed, expedited and advantageous to public interest.
In those days, we were proud Lagosians. We controlled our space. We made things work for both the indigenes and the residents. We never cut corners. Sincerely, the Lagos state that was created for the Lagosians was never expected to be injurious to our development. Then it was rare for us to have ‘fake’ indigenes as being in charge ensured that we protected our patrimony. We knew our onions then and kept to the ethos of Omo Eko Pataki.
We cannot but always remind you that our state was a country before Nigeria became one and a viable one for that matter. Lagos Colony indeed qualified in all ramifications. Our earlier publications had spoke extensively on this. We were the beacon for others to follow. We were never proud or conceited neither do we cheat. ‘Eko gba ole, o gba ole’. We knew our stuff – first secondary in Nigeria, only next to Fourah Bay college in West Africa, First pipe-borne water in 1915 built on the Island; World-class jurists notably among them was Dr. Teslim Elias; Giants in politics and rights advocacy. We can continue and we will be proud to but please allow us to save space in order to express our distaste with the current ways of things.
We will not forget to state here that we, as indigenes, welcomed all our guests with open arms and created the environment for our guests to share in our largesse and fortunes on our soil. We meant no harm and truly believed in human empathy and the ideals of a just society, providing opportunities for everyone to excel. There were few skirmishes as everybody had a role to play. Onile, Alejo, Agba ati omode. Fewer people took advantage of our hospitality. Our hospitality, something mostly heard of more in Lagos state than anywhere else in Nigeria. It was a symbiosis that worked for all.
Things have now changed. Those who never had the dream of the greater Lagos state, a geographical space that our revered King, Oba Adeniji Adele II of Lagos thought and rightfully too, was viable enough to be a Region at that time in 1953 and not envisaged to be, by any misnomer, part of the Western region.
What do we have today? They have not only raped us. Pillaged our resources, disparaged our psyche and are completely, systematically and purposefully stealing our IDENTITY. Do we say robbing us of our PATRIMONY. Rome indeed burnt while Nero played music. They know it is wrong. Lagos state government through its commissioner has stated that it is a crime to assume an indigeneship of the state when you are not and by God, it is morally wrong to deprive people of their legitimate dues. Did they do anything about it?
They have taken over our space. Controlled our lands using state powers. Now they have installed compliant kings confusing our thoughts processes. Contained within a clique and curtailed information that will be beneficial for the social development of the state. Usurped our opportunities and are now busy increasing our ACREAGE through land reclamation with the ultimate aim to change the social order and the dynamics of the population in the state. Meaning, a concise government design or ‘individual’ commitment (our strong thoughts) to make us minorities in our lands.
Check our civil and public service. Check the local government administration. Check federal and state appointments, our foolishness and nonchalant attitude has caused this SOCIAL MISDEVELOPMENT for the indigenes. We are the joke of the whole country. The first three leadership positions are occupied by non-indigenes. It is a sorry state.
We need a reappraisal of the systemic blot in that arrangement that deprives us of our rights as indigenes of the state. Our request on the reappraisal of whatever is in place is borne out of the revulsion we had while watching a video that had gone viral online revealing a number of candidates who are non-indigenes of Lagos State and were issued ‘Letter of Indigeneship’ to use the slots of Lagos indigenes in the ongoing recruitment in the Nigeria Army.
Nobody would see and listen to the video and not be concerned about the violation of the constitutional rights of indigenes of Lagos State. We noted from the video that there is an ongoing indigenes’ recruitment in Lagos State into the Nigeria Army but the scandal arising therefore is a procedural wrong committed against our people. This, in our view, is constitutionally and democratically unacceptable and a big slap on the national goal of achieving peace and unity of the country.
We have also taken note of the official comments from the Army on the matter. We are equally requesting the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, to please use his good office to look into this matter and, if true, interrogate and stop it. There must also be consequences for this criminal act.
As for the Lagos State government and responsible agencies, they are implored to step in and stop those who dish out fake indigene identity to non-indigenous residents in Lagos State in general. In due course, we will come up with a position on what must be done to curb these abuses, the feeble and stupid excuses giving by those affected local governments not withstanding.
That will not be the only issues worth noting and as one notable Lagosian stated while contributing to this discourse that:
“There are still serious issue pending investigations/answers especially as – a) We sell indigeneship; b) We sell land arbitrarily; c) We sell Chieftaincy titles; d) We sell everything with Lagos on it. The state itself is now on auction to the highest bidders. All thanks to the divisions and collaborations of some indigenes”.
We will not blame our Obas only here. Your connivance with our oppressors made them ‘toothless bulldogs’. We reserve all due respect to know those whose hearts bleed.
“Your Lord is aware of what is in your heart, and how you behave towards His Creation. He is All-Forgiving to those who repent”. – (Qur’an 17:23-25)
We can hear the call of our ancestors. CAN YOU? Even if you hear it what are you doing about it? The sad part is that they did their best for us when alive. Are you doing yours now and will you? You can start NOW!
GO HOME. IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO BE A RENNAISSANCE PATRIOT. You can make that difference. Listen more to the people who mean well for us. It should not be about you all the time. Think Lagos and see what benefits the posterity and what your community, your being can gain from you by your singular action today.
SAY NO TO STOLEN IDENTITY IN ALL RAMIFICATIONS.
To those involved in the malaise in our polity and lives, we will get to you. Whoever thinks that the humongous ill-wealth will be the ultimate advantage, we make bold to say that history is on our side and peoples’ will, will be supreme.
WE ASK ALL INDIGENES OF IBILE EKO TO BE A RENAISSANCE PATRIOT IN WORDS, DEEDS AND ACTION.
Protem Chairman:
Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd)
Protem Secretary:
Yomi Tokosi
Coordinator:
Prince Adelani Adeniji-Adele
Patrons:
Professor Liasu Adele-Jinadu
Justice Shola Hunponu-Wusu (rtd)
Major General Leo Ajiborisha (rtd)
Mr Akin (Baba) Martins.
