Lagos natives accuse Senate of ignoring objections to Ambassadorial Nominees
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Foundation expressed surprise at reported comments attributed to Senate President Akpabio, in which he reportedly stated that confirmation of the nominees proceeded because no substantial objections had been received.
Lagos State socio-cultural organisation, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, has accused the Nigerian Senate of ignoring its petitions opposing the confirmation of certain ambassadorial nominees, alleging continued political marginalisation of indigenous Lagos residents.
In a press statement issued by its Media Office dated Friday December 19, 2025, the group said it had written several open and direct letters to President Bola Tinubu and Senate President God’swill Akpabio, as well as engaged the media, to protest the nomination of Femi Pedro and Lola Akande, whom it described as non-indigenes of Lagos State.
The Foundation expressed surprise at reported comments attributed to Senate President Akpabio, in which he reportedly stated that confirmation of the nominees proceeded because no substantial objections had been received.
Reacting to the claim, the group described the statement as “insincere,” insisting that its opposition was clearly communicated through radio programmes, open letters published in national newspapers, and a formal petition addressed directly to the Senate President.
“We categorically rejected Pedro and Akande as nominees to represent Lagos State, stressing that Lagos has its own indigenes who are constitutionally entitled to occupy such positions,” the statement read. “Other states such as Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti have their own indigenes representing them. Lagos should not be different.”
De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, which describes itself as an organisation committed to protecting the political and cultural interests of Lagos indigenes, alleged that non-indigenes from other South-West states, in collaboration with federal actors, have systematically excluded Lagos natives from political power and access to opportunities in their own state.
The group further lamented what it called a long-standing pattern of injustice dating back to 1999, claiming that Lagos indigenes have been unable to freely determine their own political leadership, including gubernatorial candidates.
“This is tyranny at work,” the statement said. “Our people are steadily losing their constitutional rights, while others who already have states of origin continue to dominate political entitlements in Lagos.”
The Foundation also expressed disappointment that the Senate, which it described as a representative body of Nigeria’s diverse peoples and cultures, did not intervene to address what it termed “unprecedented injustice” against Lagos indigenes.
