LAGOS: We are real, we are not faceless people: Men behind De Renaissance Patriots appear
By KEMI KASUMU
The people behind De Renaissance Patriots, a socio-cultural organisation established to lead a better Lagos State for the state indigenes, have appeared.
They say, “We are real and are not faceless people” whose mission has been made clear from the first to third releases they had issued, saying they are not fighting anybody but to ensure that any governorship candidate to be fielded for election by any political party in the state must henceforth be an IBILE Eko person.
De Renaissance Patriots Foundation debuted last year with the men behind it proclaiming “Lagos as the land of our birth; the land of our forefathers; the land had given so much to us such that we must give so much back to it.”
These men of honour, who have come together as respected and highly distinguished personalities, are most importantly indigenes of Lagos State, who have come to say enough of deprivation and marginalisation of indigenes by non-indigenes from other South West states that have unlawfully grabbed the political power of their state since return of democracy in 1999 and are saying “now it is time for IBILE Eko people to take back their constitutionally granted Lagos State for them to administer it properly.”
From the first release by the group, the Lagos State indigenes, under the aegis of De Renaissance Patriots, a socio-cultural organisation, made their mission further clearer as a body established to lead a better state for themselves, having 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.
As at the time of their third release early this year, De Renaissance Patriots had made huge impact in sensitisation with many indigenous people now buying into the project while other non-indigenous Nigerians resident in Lagos State have vowed to support them to actualise their goal.
In the latest release, which is fourth by the socio-cultural group, they have been all out to answer a regularly asked question about who the people behind the group are and assure they are real, not faceless fighters and that their fight is seeking justice for the marginalised and persecuted Lagos indigenes.
“Therefore, before we are labelled, profiled and defined in garbs that disrespect our persons, motives and inclinations, we invite the interested public to have a glimpse into the highly distinguished personalities behind De Renaissance Patriots Foundation. These are respected indigenes, who have served the nation and the state well in different capacities,” said the Secretariat of De Renaissance Patriots.
Meet the men:
[PROFESSOR ADELE JINADU]Professor Adele Jinadu is he Chairman Board of Trustees of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation. He hails from the Jinadu Odu-Ogunmade Family of the Ogboni Iduntafa-Onilegbale Chieftaincy Family of Isale Eko/the King Family of Ita Alagba and he is a Professor of Political Science. He had his secondary school education (WAEC and Higher School Certificate) at the King’s College, Lagos, where he was Secretary, King’s College Students’ Council, Mckee-Wright’s House Captain and School Prefect. He graduated from the University of Oxford, U.K., with a BA Honours Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics; and the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities), U.S.A. where he obtained the Ph.D. degree in Political Science. He retired as a Professor of Political Science and former Dean, Faculty of Society Sciences, Lagos State University in 2001, having taught previously at the University of Lagos (1979-1982) and at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
His administrative and academic career are extensive and he is a household name when discussing the political development of Nigeria. A Member of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (1987-1992), Director-General, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (1992-1996). He is currently a Non-Resident Senior Fellow, and Chairman, Election Analysis Centre of the Centre for Democracy & Development, Abuja, Nigeria. An author of the widely acclaimed, Fanon In Search of the African Revolution.
[MAJOR GENERAL TAJUDEEN ADENIYI OLANREWAJU, RTD, ndc, GCHB]
Retired Major Tajudeen Adeniyi Olanrewaju is a veteran of the Biafra War, a military diplomat, Directing Staff (Army Command & Sfaff College, Jaji), who attended the National Defence College (ndc), India and earned his Msc Strategic Studies, is the Alternate Chairman Board of Trustees, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation. He had a meritorious service in the Nigerian Army and fought in the Nigerian civil war having been commissioned as young officer of the Nigerian Army in 1967 and headed several military commands including Commander, Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, Deputy Defence Adviser Nigerian Embassy, Moscow, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Armoured Division, Nigerian Army, and political positions in his career as a soldier culminating in his appointment as a Member of Nigeria’s highest military ruling body (THE PROVISIONAL RULING COUNCIL) and later the Minister of Communications and Member Federal Executive Council, where he served from 1995 till his retirement in 1997. Tajudeen Adeniyi Olanrewaju, a war veteran, footballer and military diplomat-counsellor, rose through the ranks in the Nigerian Army to the prestigious rank of Major General. From historical lineages, his parents were descendants of prominent Lagos and Yoruba families.
[MAJOR GENERAL LEO AJIBORISHA, RTD]
Retired Major General Leo Ajiborisha hails from Epe Local Government of Lagos State. He attended St. Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Yaba and Zumratul Islamiyyah Grammar School, Yaba, Lagos. A veteran of the Nigerian military, he was commissioned an officer (Lieutenant) into the Nigerian Army on 13th March, 1971 and rose to the apex rank of Major General prior to retirement in June 1999. A Telecommunications Engineer, General Ajiborisha was Pioneer Military Administrator of Osun State (27th August 1991- 2nd January 1992) and also the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (14th August 1998- 29th May 1999). He is a honoured Trustee of the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation.
[HON. JUSTICE SOLOMON OLUSOLA HUNPONU-WUSU (RTD)]
Hon. Justice Honponu-Wusu hails from Badagry Division of Lagos State. His educational background include a B.L., Nigeria Law School, Lagos (1972 – 1973); LL. B (Hons), University of Lagos (1968 – 1972); Higher School Certificate, Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos (1964 – 1965); West African School Certificate, C. M. S Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos (1959 – 1963) and First School Leaving Certificate, St. Paul’s School, Lagos (1950 – 1958). Hon Justice Solomon Hunponu-Wusu is an experienced and dedicated lawyer who worked meritoriously in the administrative, legal and judiciary sectors of the Nigerian society. He runs a Legal Consultancy (2002–date) and held various positions in his admirable career in Public Service. Amongst others, he was Administrative Judge of the Lagos State Judiciary (2001– 2002); Chairman, Election Tribunal, Zamfara State (1998); appointed High Court Judge in February 1986. He established Hunponu-Wusu & Co. (1977 – 1986) and was Head of Practice. The retired Justice is a Member, Nigeria Bar Association; Member, International Bar Association; Fellow, Nigeria Maritime Law Association; Associate Member, N.C.M.G.; Member, National Council of States Courts Management, Virginia, USA; Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; Member, Nigeria Maritime Law Arbitrators; Member, Nigeria Institute of Management (N.I.M). He is President, United Elders Forum of Badagry (UNEFOB); Past President, Ibile Forum; Past President, Egun-Awori Elders Forum; Past President, Egun Central Forum of Nigeria; Member, Board of Directors, Lagos State University Development Foundation (LASUDEF) representing Badagry Division of Lagos State. He is a honoured Trustee of De Renaissance Patriots.
[ALHAJI MOHAMMED AKIN MARTINS] Alhaji Mohammed Akin Martins started out with his primary education at Saint Paul’s School Breadfruits, Lagos Island, Lagos and proceeded to Abeokuta Grammar School, Abeokuta. He attended the Chicago Technical, College, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America; Triton College, River Grove, Illinois, USA; Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago, Illinois, USA with his areas of study in Building and Civil Engineering Technology. A specialist in markets development in Lagos, Alhaji Martins was an active political party player in the days mainly of Second Republic in Nigeria. He is from the popular MARTINS family of Popo Aguda. Alhaji Akin Martins, is presently a Licensed Realtor for the State of Maryland and Washington. His is a profile of a builder. He is a honoured Trustee of the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation.
[DR. WASIU TIWALADE ODOFIN]
Dr. Wasiu Odofin, an IBILE Eko of the Ikorodu Division extractions, had his academic and professional backgrounds in Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, USA (1974-1976) – M.Sc; Blackburn University, Carlinville Illinois USA (1966-1972) – B.Sc. Chemistry; Guinness School of Brewing, Dublin, Ireland in 1980; Ahmadiyya College, Agege, Lagos (1961-1966) and Talim-Ul-Islam Primary School, Elegbata, Lagos (1952-1960). He is former Director/CEO, National Center for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Ibadan (Feb 2005 – Nov 2012); Production/Laboratory Manager, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (May 1977 – Oct 1983) among several others. Alternate Member Board of Director, National Cereals Research Institute, Badegi (1991-1993); Member Board of Directors, Ibile Holdings Ltd, Lagos (1992-1993) and is recipient of several awards. He is a honoured Trustee member of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation.
[PRINCE ADELANI ADENIJI-ADELE]
PRince Adelani Adeniji-Adele is a son of Oba Musendiku Adeniji-Adele II, Oba of Lagos (1949-1964). He attended CMS Grammar School Lagos. He holds a BA Degree in History (UNILORIN) and Master Degree in Public Administration (LASU). He is an adult educator. He worked in the Public service at both the Federal (Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs) and Lagos State (Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). He is a concerned Lagos historian and an unapologetic Omo Ibile Eko with very strong bias for the upwardly mobile social development of Lagos Sate. An avid sportsman in his younger days. He is the President of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation
[MR. YOMI TOKOSI]
Mr. Yomi Tokosi is a former Managing Director/Chief Executive of First African Trust Bank, is presently the Chairman of Riggs Ventures West Africa Plc. He attended Ansad-Ud-Deen College Isolo, Lagos State and Federal School of Science, Onikan, Lagos State for his “A” Level Mr Yomi Tokosi holds a B.Sc Chemistry from Howard University, Washington D.C., a Post Graduate Diploma from UCLA and an MBA (Finance) from University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. He had a distinguished career in Banking and Financial Services spanning over 35 years before establishing Riggs, a sack manufacturing outfit. Tokosi hails from the Tokosi- Fagbeyide Ruling House and passionate and proud of his Isale–Eko roots. Mr Yomi Tokosi is the Secretary General of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation.
[ALHAJI MIFTAH BOLAJI ARE]
Alhaji Miftah Bolaji hails from Lagos Island in Lagos State. Bolaji Are attended University of Houston, Houston Texas USA where he bagged both B.Sc. (Economics) and Master (Economics). He is an old boy of CMS Grammar School Bariga (Formerly Lagos Anglican Grammar School Bariga) and had his primary school education at both Lagos African Church School Ebute Metta and Zumratul Islamiyyah Primary School, Akani Street Lagos. Bolaji Are had a distinguished career in Lagos State Local Government Service Commission and rose to be Council Treasurer in several local government areas. Bolaji Are authored the Wharf Landing fee document and secured the Joint Tax Board approval for tax collection from the Nigeria Ports Authority – 1979-1988. He is a honoured Trustee of the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation.
[BARRISTER YAKUBU ELETO, ESQ]
Barrister Yakubu Eleto is a Lagos indigene from Origanrigan Village n Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State. He is a Nigerian Lawyer and a seasoned Human Rights Activist. The Principal Partner at Yakubu Eleto Chambers is currently a PhD student with his area of specialization on International Human Rights, having obtained his Masters in Law from the Obafemi Awolowo University and his initial Law Degree from Lagos State University. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association. Yakubu Eleto ESQ is the Youth Leader/Legal Adviser to the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation.
[CP BAKARE OLAKUNLE TAJUDEEN, RTD]
Tajudeen Olakunle Bakare is a Retired Commissioner of Police. He attended Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Lagos; Saint Timothy’s college, Yaba, Lagos; and Universite de Paris vii, Jussieu, Paris, France, bagging B.A. (Hons.), M.A. (hons). and he is a fellow, certified board of administrators of Nigeria. Tajudeen has extensive skills in Intelligence, Security and Policing having attended relevant courses and obtained prolific Hands-on experience as a police officer of note. He is the Ex-Officio and a member De Renaissance Patriots Foundation
Engr. (Dr) Lateef Adio Onikoyi is an electrical engineering professional. He graduated with Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering (University of Ilorin). He worked with Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) and later Ministry of Housing as Electrical Engineer in 1991 and rose to become Chief Engineer (Electrical) before his voluntary retirement in 2001. The CEO Labec Nigeria Ltd and Eco Power Distribution System Ltd attended and presented papers on Power Generation and Distribution at the International Power and Energy Annual Conference in the United States of America. He is researcher of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation.
The Secretariat of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation reiterates that “it is designed to enhance, promote and advocate for a better social order for the indigenes of Lagos State as well as initiate programmes, including but not limited to conferences, newspaper advertorials, press releases and direct involvement with indigenes of the state, and to promote the political aspirations of the indigenes, their culture, traditions, social events, education and the ethos of its peoples are paramount as our objective.”
