{PHOTOS} Objective of resident non-indigenes is to capture Lagos State, deny indigenes of their constitutional rights – Natives

By KEMI KASUMU

It has been revealed that the motif of resident non-indigenes in control of political power in Lagos State is no more or less than to capture the Centre of Excellence, politically, and then use their control of its government to deny indigenes of their constitutional rights.

This revelation was contained in a statement by De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, a socio-cultural organisation of Lagos State indigenes, during a meeting on invitation of Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division on Tuesday September 10, 2024.

De Renaissance was led to the meeting by its new President, Mr. Miftah Bolaji Are, who briefed the hosts telling them what the group stands for as one without partisanship inclination but simply out to ensure that Lagos indigenes will henceforth govern themselves as Governor, Deputy Governor and Speaker among other political offices in the state.

Mr. Are, in his remarks, informed the host group that he became President of De Renaissance Patriots after the demise of its founding President, Prince Adelani Adeniji-Adele, who died recently on Friday August 2, 2024 and was buried on Wednesday August 22.

“We have no problem with Igbo. It is the South Westerners that are our problem. I have asked them, if you say Igbo want to take over Lagos, are the Igbo the ones who take people’s land and award same to themselves? Are they Igbo who approve Cs-of-O for those land given out to other non-indigenes? So I told them that they cannot send Igbo packing because Igbo are not our problem but the South Westerners who want to capture Lagos unjustiably,” he said.

According to De Renaissance Patriots’ Statement, delivered by Former Minister of Communications, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd), who is Alternate Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Group, it was because of that basic reason some people would come to the state claiming either double indigeneship, which is against the law, or make an indefensible indigeneship claim with false declaration that is not confirmable by any native Lagos family.

Tuesday’s meeting was at the instance of the Eminent Persons of Ikorodu, who invited the Mr. Miftah Bolaji Are-led De Renaissance Patriots to come and address them having noticed waves the group is making in the struggle for indigenes’ rights to the political control of their state.

“The objective of resident non-indigenes is to capture Lagos State, politically and deny the indigenes of their constitutional rights and privileges. How then do you explain the situations when the holders of 6 important political offices, most often, are held by non-indigenes.

“The ruling elite and leadership in Lagos State government, by holding on to the most important political positions, control the political administration and the state’s resources, and use the state to climb the political ladders at the expense of the indigenes.

“Important decisions, political selection and constitutional entitlements are allocated on this basis of inequality and self interests. We can give examples of non-indigenes, who proudly hold double indigeneship and use Lagos State as stepping stones. How do they achieve it? They achieve it through false declaration because they are never confirmed to be known by families they claimed to come from in Lagos State.

“It is a betrayal, wrongful representation and lack of respect for Lagos State indigenes when the contesting parties nominate candidates who have two states of origin for the state. This attitude of deliberate imposition makes it possible for Senator Solomon Adeola a.k.a. Omo West/Yayi to use Lagos slot to the Senate at the National Assembly. He is currently representing Ogun State (West) in the Senate. This is unhealthy.

“This kind of behaviour also applies to the case of Mr. James Faleke, who has been representing Ikeja Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives in Abuja. He had the audacity to take a leave of absence from the National Assembly to contest for the governorship seat in Kogi State during the same currency of his service in the House of Representatives. When he failed, he returned to his seat in Abuja without any conscience. “Is it fair? Is it just?”” It asked.

De Renaissance continued that, “The appointment of Mrs Ade-John as a full-time Minister representing Lagos State is unconstitutional. She is a resident and of the Ogun State origin. The state deserves a full-time Minister as expressed in the Constitution and not a Minister of State that we have. De Renaissance Patriots Foundation is not against these appointees in their personal capacity, but we feel we should point out the serious flaws that deny the state indigenes of their rights and privileges.

“We want the country to become prosperous and well secured for all her citizens. We pray for our leaders to lead properly and succeed. Our state should do everything possible to ensure that indigenes are not overwhelmed by the daily movement of people who decide to settle in our midst. The ruling elite must not try to put a yoke of slavery on the indigenes because of streaming migration of settlers on the land,” it said.

Reading the Statement, General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, had earlier revealed why the resident non-indigenes are desperately funning for the heart of Lagos, but assured the Eminent Persons of Ikorodu and the entire Lagos natives of the Ikorodu Division that “this time, we are going to make it”.

He faulted the resident non-indigenes’ claim population of Lagos indigenes does not favour them governing their state, saying it is not true as “they have no empirical evidence to back up their claim.”

The Group, according to the Statement, said, “Lagos State, by her economic status and level of development, offers more comparative advantage than other states of the federation. That is the reason why the struggle for control of Lagos State resources becomes fierce and relenting. Does this fallacy make the position of indigenes to govern the state untenable?

“De Renaissance Patriots Foundation is of the opinion that there is a conspiracy to capture the state permanently by the ruling elite, most of whom are resident non indigenes. It thus brings us to the main point why the political parties prefer residents who are non-indigenes to be at the helm of affairs using them as pliable tools to do the wish of the ruling government.

“So, it becomes a lot easier to explain the situation whereby about 60% of our representations at the National and State Assemblies, Local Government Areas and Councillors are all non-indigenes? This is where we, as De Renaissance Patriots of Lagos State, believe that the political administration relegates the indigenes to the back seats.

“It seems that for these reasons, every four years of political administration in Lagos State, the indigenes get closer and closer for critical moments in making certain decisions about how they want to rule themselves.

“Despite the overwhelming support for the government, the ruling government has not been fair and just in the allocation of resources to the indigenes as the first citizens of the state on the basis of mutual recognition of their political, economic, social, cultural dignity and right of blood.

“The Nigerian Constitution confers certain rights and privileges under the principles of liberty, justice, fairness and equity: The Justice Irikefe Report, which recommended the creation of Lagos State, saw the viability to give her a voice of her own to run their political administration.  This administration ran smoothly during the military era.”

The Retired General, Tajudeen Olanrewaju in a further explanation, said, “Enough is Enough! Indigenes must stand up and contest for all available elective positions to tell them that Lagos indigenes can govern themselves and the time is now!”

After a standing ovation appreciating the presentation of De Renaissance Patriots’ Statement by General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Architect Taiwo Kara, who responded on behalf of the Eminent Persons of Ikorodu, said it was a great lead “that inspires to stand up to our rights and that exactly we will do”.

In his welcome remarks to his guests, President of the Eminent Persons of Ikorodu, Alhaji Babatunde Rotinwa, assisted by other members of his Group, said it was a great delight that they had leadership of De Renaissance physically visiting the Ikorodu Division to honour their invitation.

Rotinwa said, “It’s long now that we have been asking ourselves ‘what do these De Renaissance Patriots actually stand for?’ We asked more and more questions and we got to know them and we invited to come and address us. We are therefore happy and thankful to them that they are here today honouring our invitation.”

He said the struggle for indigenes’ rights to govern their Lagos State is one that no one must shy away from because, according to him, whoever wants to ask for the killing of his father or occupy the chieftaincy of his ancestor cannot “honestly speaking” fear to die.

He said the struggle is one that must be embraced by all Lagos indigenes.

Other photographs from the event: