Lagos youths reject Seyi Tinubu, reply Owerri meeting ‘no vacancy for non-indigene as Governor 2027’
By KEMI KASUMU
Coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youths has reacted to recent endorsement of Seyi Tinubu to contest for governorship of Lagos State come 2027, adding that there is no vacancy for non-indigene as next governor of their state.
The DEFENDER had earlier reported that one Coalition of Nigeria Youth Leaders (CONYL) meeting in Owerri, Imo State capital, endorsed Seyi, who is son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was endorsed by the Owerri meeting to contest as governor of a state ruled by his father for eight years and has controlled as political garrison commander even after leaving office since 2007 until becoming president of Nigeria in 2023.
In a statement signed on behalf of the Coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youths by Abdul Kareem Whyte, dated November 20, 2024 and circulated to the press Wednesday night, the Lagos indigenous youths made it clear that Seyi Tinubu, as a Nigerian citizen, is entitled to contest for election but in Osun State where his family rightly belongs.
According to them, if the Owerri people of Imo are so interested, they can make him succeed their Governor Hope Uzodinma as their next governor of their state.
The statement read in details, “Our attention has been drawn to the recent endorsement of Seyi Tinubu for Lagos governor by a group known as Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL) and the group is described as the the umbrella body of all the youth groups drawn across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
“The said Coalition sat in Owerri, Imo State and publicly issued the statement on endorsement, while we know Mr Seyi Tinubu has his democratic rights as a Nigerian, we condemn the ill-fated endorsement and described it as anti-democracy and a deliberate move by some faceless individuals to deny indigenes of Lagos State right to govern themselves in 2027.
“It is no longer news that since 1999 no true blood indigenes of Lagos State have taken over the mantle of leadership in the State (except one), the marginalization which underscores the essence of democracy and an outright denial of the indigenes of Lagos State the right to govern themselves.
“We know as a fact that there will soon be vacancy in OSUN STATE where Mr Seyi Tinubu can best exercise his democratic rights unhindered. And if the people of Owerri in Imo are also interested in benefiting from the experience Mr Seyi Tinubu has acquired in recent times, they can push him to succeed Governor Uzodinma.
“As for us there is no vacancy for non indigenes in Lagos State in 2027. The marginalization is too much and the marginalization has led to the underdevelopment in the state.
“It’s unbelievable that since 1999, our hinterlands are not developed, no good roads, Lagos State leaving on debts and our traditional system distorted by successive governments.
“We are also aware of the moves by some non-indigenes to penetrate our traditional rulers in getting endorsements and ratifications from them.
“Recently, one of the aspirants suddenly traced his ancestry to Ojo Local Government after spending more than a decade in power without identifying with the Awori People of Ojo in Lagos State.
“We are hereby calling on the Oba of Lagos to beware of persons who will soon seek indigenship of Lagos State because of 2027.
“We will fight dirty if the Oba of Lagos allows such anti Lagos Indigenes move.
“We advise the leadership of CONYL to channel their energies towards advocating for good governance and policies that will benefit the youth constituency rather than instigating political crises in Lagos State.
“Eko Ji Ma Sun,” meaning Lagos wake up don’t sleep, said the Coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youths in the Abdul Kareem Whyte’s statement.
