GEDEGBE L’EKO WA: How unknown “Lagos Indigenes In North America” missed the road on Lagos, Western Region debate
By ABANIKANDA OLUMORO (UK)
The report published in Sahara Reporters credited to a so-called Lagos indigenes in North America group should not mean anything to worry about because, it was easy for me to understand where whoever sponsored the story is coming from.
READ ALSO DAISPORA VIEW: Why Lagos State indigenes deserve our pity and support
They tend to make us believe that the genuine indigenous Lagos rights fighters hate non-indigenes, but no. I have studied to know that they are only saying O’ To Ge to fellow South West states indigenes holding them back from running their state by themselves, and who are holding them back from accessing and enjoying what constitutionally and naturally belong to them of state land and political power. Sponsors of that so called “Lagos Indigenes in North America” story are the same people, who wanted Igbo out of Lagos State over allegation of wanting to take over Lagos, whereas they are ones who claim Lagos to be land and cake of all Yoruba people that must be shared by them.
READ ALSO SOLIDARITY: 5 takeaways from Lagos’ De Renaissance Patriots’ 2nd release
My question is, those who demolish buildings and market centres of Lagos indigenes under pretext of modernisation but later sell to the same Igbo for higher price, while leaving deprived indigenous owners in the cold, are they Igbo? Those who are busy taking the land of Lagos people from Lekki to Lagos Island and the mainland and so on, are they Igbo?
There is no right a Yoruba from Ekiti or Osun has over Igbo man other than they are both in Lagos for greener pasture but not to grab their patrimony because, like you are spiritually connected to your own states’ land, so real Lagos indigenes who are not like the unknown “Lagos indigenes in North America” are spiritually connected to their own land.
READ ALSO {OPINION} The usurpation of indigenes’ opportunities, rights ongoing in Lagos State
Ever since my intervention in defence of De Renaissance Patriots agreeing with the Foundation’s leaders saying “Only indigenes can deliver good governance in Lagos” and Seye Oladejo, an Ibadan Oyo State indigene countered, there has been series of attempt by writers or speaker I would describe as “invinsible” trying to facelessly dominate the media (social or traditional) in misleading the public about who an indigene is.
In the end we saw a project propped up now officially by the Legislative arm of Tinubu Administration wanting to impose “residency” on state against “indigeneship” in laying claim to ownership of the state. The moment I saw that debate being planned, I had no difficulty understanding that people behind it are non-indigenes, like me, who stole their way – through an Aferenire-led election malpractice that rigged indigenous Engr. Funshp Williams with his over 700,000 votes – into dominating Lagos State political power since 1999 and are now hit by already expanding insistence of Lagos natives to take back their state in 2027.
We have had them retired but only being able to brag from the underground after failing to withstand some of the points that I put before my readers in the Diaspora and back home in Nigeria. That is what they now do, the likes of Seye Oladejo, who has enjoined two indigenship as, having been Oyo State indigene from Ibadan, he has held several elective and appointive political offices in Lagos and is presently holding office in Lagos as state Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC).
Their latest the one by the group claiming to be owners of the land of Lagos saying De Renaissance Patriots Foundation cannot speak for Lagos indigenes. This way they make me stronger in my resolve to stand with any group of persons that I know are real, not faceless and fighting to reclaim their political power from non-indigenes currently there. Get me right, Oloore wa ni Awon Eko (Lagos indigenes contributed to our successes today) and if I ever join other non-indigenes to pay them back with evil, that means an invitation of the wrath of God.
Go and look at it, currently it shows clearly that accusation levied by Lagos natives against the non-indigenes from other South West states is a fact. Because you have somebody backing you, apart from filling all offices and civil service positions with your fellow non-indigenes, you also make sure that any office Lagos indigenes still exist, it is either they join you in selling off their patrimony or you frustrate them out if not to death.
Where you have Gboyega Oyetola, as Governor and now Minister in Nigeria, boasting that it will never happen that non-indigene holds political office in Osun State and Egba people of Ogun State are now fighting saying they cannot be inferior in their own land, the same fellow South West (Yoruba) as non-indigenes in Lagos have cornered all powers and opportunities to the extent that Governor of Lagos is Ijebu Mushin (Ogun), Deputy Governor of Lagos is Egba (Ogun) and Speaker is from same Ogun and you don’t want the people you beat to cry?
For you to now go and hide under an unknown Lagos group claiming to be Lagos ingenes and land owners in Morth America, it calls for more of a pity. It mot enough to so claim. We need to see that you as real and seeable as the De Renaissance Patriots that we have seen and have known. Otherwise, you are just a pack deceivers that, if found, must be arrested and prosecuted by enforcers of the law either in Nigeria or that America.
I challenge you, this faceless group of people, to tell us who you are. Get me right, you are free to claim Lagos identity if only you can tell how Lagos became part of Yoruba Nation. You need to proceed to Oyo to learn how Yoruba Nation came into being. Lagos was a colony before Nigeria became a country in 1914. There was no single Yoruba state until 1905; each city with its own culture and dialects.The entire Yoruba geographical space was taken up by intra-tribal wars.
Other questions you must answer: Were your forefathers part of the aborigines that were in colonial Lagos before amalgamation in 1914? What is your point about when you have some unknown people claiming that, “No single pinch of Yoruba Land will be sacrifice(d) for Nigeria, know this and know peace!!!!?”
Then, these strangers that you are, can now be bent to wage a war to claim what you don’t own? You are simply sojourners. You want to capture Lagos State land that you claimed to be your forefathers’ heritage and take to other region to be subsumed under another authority, while you are independent. What an idiotic and illogical thought of “Omo buruku to nda ile baba wo” you are! If Lagos is your forefathers’ heritage in the first place, why do you want to fight war to take it and from who?
My fellow countrymen, let the sponsors remove their veils, and we would tell them who they are. De Renaissance Patriots Foundation leaders and sponsors are committed indigenous people, who have traditional and historical antecedents and are linked to the Royalty and Chieftancy families in Lagos State.
Although I have waited patiently to see whether the directly affected or addressed natives will reply them but saw that their thought might be in tandem with my earlier thought of not taking their idiotic and illogical vituoeration with a pinch of salt. However, as an avowed fan, follower and lover of Lagis indigenous struggle from the Diaspora, if they provoke me further, I will challenge this faceless group with historical facts, and hope commonsense will prevail.
I will only advise and urge De Renaissance Patriots not step back from their task of liberating their dear Lagos State from marginalisation and domination by this “Atohunriwa” like this faceless group, and the autocratic choke holding the entire state is suffering from.
In the event that your principals, cooking all of these ideas of Constitution Review, scale through with the sole aim of either reversing the Nigeria system to the stone age of regionalism or better split the country into Oduduwa Republic and I know some other tribes of South may key into it, if the Lagos State indigenes the say – like they have said – they will not be part of Western Region, who the hell are you! to counter them, considering the evils done to them from your hands as non-indigenes, a little of which I have mentioned above?
Further, Lagos indigenes have historically resisted integration into broader regional structures, citing instances of marginalization and neglect. Many local pressure groups have historically argued that past associations with the Western Region have been detrimental, leading to underdevelopment and marginalization of Lagos interests. Understandably, the push for political autonomy is rooted in a desire for self-determination and the ability to directly manage and benefit from the city’s resources and strategic position. An autonomous Lagos can better address its unique challenges and leverage its strengths without external interference.
Additionally, Lagos’s development as a colonial capital brought diverse cultural influences and infrastructural advancements that set it apart from other regions. This legacy has fostered a distinct socio-political identity that does not align seamlessly with the rest of the South-West.
Given that Lagos is Nigeria’s most cosmopolitan city, hosting a multitude of ethnic groups from across the country and beyond, this diversity necessitates a governance framework that can accommodate various cultural, social, and economic needs, something a regional government centered on Yoruba ethnicity may fail to provide adequately. The inclusive and diverse population of Lagos demands a governance model that reflects its multi-ethnic composition, ensuring equitable representation and addressing unique challenges that arise from its diverse population dynamics.
Undoubtedly, Lagos remains the economic powerhouse of Nigeria, contributing significantly to the nation’s GDP. Its economy is driven by distinct sectors such as finance, entertainment, international trade, and technology, which require specific policy frameworks and infrastructural investments. Integrating Lagos into a larger South West region could dilute these priorities and hinder its economic momentum.
Let’s not forget that the infrastructural needs of Lagos are vastly different from those of other South Western states. The city’s rapid urbanization and population growth necessitate tailored urban planning and infrastructural projects, which might not be prioritized in a regional government structure.
The recent agitation for regionalization subsumed in the proposed bill for returning to regionalism has not undertaken adequate consultations with the indigenes of Lagos. This exclusion raises significant concerns about the democratic legitimacy of such a decision. Effective governance requires the buy-in and consent of the governed, which can only be achieved through comprehensive consultations and possibly a referendum. Accordingly, there is a strong call for a referendum to ensure that the voices of Lagos indigenes are heard and respected. This democratic process would provide a clear mandate on whether Lagos should join the South-West region or remain a standalone entity.
Given its unique historical background, diverse demographics, economic significance, and the expressed desire for political autonomy, Lagos State should not be subsumed into the South-West region. Instead, it should maintain its standalone status to effectively address its specific needs and aspirations. This approach not only honours the historical and contemporary wishes of Lagos indigenes but also ensures that the city can continue to thrive as Nigeria’s economic and cultural hub.
