Renaissance Patriots Foundation, UN Secretary General caution against discrimination of indigenous people {FULL TEXT}

By KEMI KASUMU

Indigeneship is a matter of heritage, not habitation. It is distinct from citizenship and must remain so in law and in practice. The proposal under consideration is a direct affront to the identity, dignity, and historical rights of indigenous communities, and it opens the door to ethnic disenfranchisement and avoidable conflict.

For the second time in one month, Lagos State socio-cultural organization, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, has reiterated its rejection of the proposed constitutional amendment currently before the National Assembly, which seeks to redefine indigeneship as based on birth, prolonged residency, or marriage, rather than ancestry and historical connection to land.

It said the legislation, if passed, will erode the cultural and constitutional rights of indigenous Nigerians, particularly the indigenous peoples of Lagos State.

The DEFENDER recalls that the group established to achieve a better state for Lagos State indigenes had recently made its voice heard against the bill, which it said was capable of inciting ethnic conflicts across the country.

In a State of the Nation/Lagos Message dated April 23, 2025 and released to the media by the Group’s media office on Wednesday, it said “the matters outlined herein have far-reaching implications not only for the indigenous peoples of Lagos State but for the future of Nigeria’s democratic and federal structure,” and so wanted the proposed bill stopped with immediate effect.

De Renaissance Patriots Foundation message was coming at a time the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said that “the individual and collective rights of Indigenous Peoples are non-negotiable.”

Guterres made this known in his opening remarks at an ongoing Permanent Forum of the United Nations under the theme, “Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within United Nations Member States and the United Nations system, including identifying good practices and addressing challenges.”

Describing Indigenous Peoples as “the preeminent stewards of the world’s biodiversity and the environment”, the Secretary General highlighted the difficulties they face, including marginalization, discrimination, unemployment, economic disadvantage, horrendous violence, climate change, and illegal mining on their land.

“We know how to right these wrongs,” he said, noting that the United Nations Declaration —adopted in 2007 — laid out a blueprint for securing the survival, dignity and well-being of Indigenous Peoples everywhere and has been used by courts, parliaments and communities to secure rights and galvanize political action.

Speaking explicitly, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation said, “We call on the Lagos State Caucus in the National Assembly to vigorously oppose this attempt to dilute indigenous rights, and we remind all lawmakers of their solemn obligation to protect the diverse ethnic foundations upon which Nigeria is built.”

Reas the full text of the statement:

STATE OF THE NATION/LAGOS MESSAGE BY DE RENAISSANCE PATRIOTS FOUNDATION

The De-Renaissance Patriots Foundation issues this urgent press release to draw the attention of the Lagos State, Federal Government, the National Assembly, and the international community to critical and deeply concerning developments in Lagos State. The matters outlined herein have far-reaching implications not only for the indigenous peoples of Lagos State but for the future of Nigeria’s democratic and federal structure.

1 RE: QUALIFICATION FOR INDIGENESHIP IN NIGERIA

We categorically reject the proposed constitutional amendment currently before the National Assembly, which seeks to redefine indigeneship as based on birth, prolonged residency, or marriage, rather than ancestry and historical connection to land. This legislation, if passed, will erode the cultural and constitutional rights of indigenous Nigerians, particularly the indigenous peoples of Lagos State.

Indigeneship is a matter of heritage, not habitation. It is distinct from citizenship and must remain so in law and in practice. The proposal under consideration is a direct affront to the identity, dignity, and historical rights of indigenous communities, and it opens the door to ethnic disenfranchisement and avoidable conflict.

We call on the Lagos State Caucus in the National Assembly to vigorously oppose this attempt to dilute indigenous rights, and we remind all lawmakers of their solemn obligation to protect the diverse ethnic foundations upon which Nigeria is built.

2 MARGINALIZATION AND DOMINATION OF LAGOS STATE INDIGENES

History has helped us to understand where ancestral aborigines of Lagos State indigenes were coming from and where we are proud to be today. Based on these historical facts and events leading to the creation of lagos state, the indigenes can not be lectured on its creation by those who do not know our beginning. We are saddened by the fact that the state from the beginning of democratic dispensation in 1999 has been sold as a political orphan.

The political administration in Lagos State has taken away indigenous rights in the full participation of governance. For 25 years, those running the affairs of government in the state have been mainly non indigenes. The indigenes have been robbed at the executive, legislative, public, and civil service levels as over 70% are non indigenous holders.

Lagos State is the only state in the whole of the federation where aberration is perpetuated through abuse of power and tyranny. This is an inappropriate policy that is wrong, unjust, and injurious to the pride of the indigenes. There is no doubt that dictatorship exists in the control of government formation in Lagos State whether at state, federal or local government level in terms of representation. All you find majorly are non-indigenes and a few indigenes. The resurgent ambition of the Yoruba neighbours in usurping the indigenes’ constitutional rights, benefits, and opportunities is not in the best interests of the indigenous people. What will be in the best interest of the indigenes is to have all our elective positions (Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker), Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Head of Service, Chief Judge in the state and all slots for federal appointments due to Lagos State occupied by them (indigenous Lagosians – IBILE).

Knowing now that our present and the future of our children and grandchildren are in serious denial by the ruling elites, because of marginisation, domination, and marginal participation in governance as guaranteed by the constitution on our ancestral space, indigenes should not be denied the political heritage of their struggle in having a state of their own calling.

3 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

The Constitution clearly provides for 20 Local Government Areas in Lagos State. The intention to conduct elections in additional 37 LCDAs is not only unconstitutional but also an aberration. This illegal action threatens to undermine the autonomy of the constitutionally recognized 20 Local Government Councils in the state. We are of the view that the additional 37 LCDAs, illegally created but now being considered at the National Assembly, should be vigorously pursued to a logical conclusion so the state can have the financial and moral benefits of local governments creation.

We call on the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to strictly adhere to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and urge political parties to field indigenous candidates who reflect the cultural and political heritage of the people of Lagos State.

4 LAGOS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY CRISIS

On March 12, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu summoned members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to Aso Rock following the removal of Speaker Obasa. Rather than affirming the democratic decision of the majority, the President intervened to reinstate Obasa, against the will of 36 out of 40 lawmakers.

This act contradicts his approach in Rivers State, where the President endorsed the majority’s decision in the legislature while the reverse is what happened in Lagos State House of Assembly where the will of majority members (36) was suppressed for minority members (4).

The selective application of federal influence is deeply troubling and inconsistent with the principles of free, fair and credible democratic process.

It has come to our observation that in any state where it is clear the president is losing out in power structure and contest, he tries to upset the political process in that state to freely impose his own will. The case of Meranda is a good example. When an opportunity came, after a long time, for an indigene even a woman to become the Speaker of the Assembly she was strongly opposed by the president by virtue of her being an indigene the of state.

Even, despite illegalising Obasa’s removal by Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, the House has not been able to reconvene and there is no possibility of reconvening in no distance time as the Mudashiru Obasa had already lost the confidence of the members of the house.

As a socio political group, we decry this interference and urge all levels of government to respect the rule of law and the sovereignty of state institutions.

5 WITHDRAWAL OF SECURITY FROM OBA ONIRU AND OBA ELEGUSHI

We allegedly heard that security personnel attached to two revered Lagos monarchs, Oba Oniru and Oba Saheed Elegushi have been withdrawn. If this is true, and we hope it is not true, then it will be condemnable.

Such actions not only endanger their lives and the stability of their domains but also signify a broader pattern of disregard for traditional institutions that have long safeguarded peace and cohesion in Lagos.

We urge the Federal Government and relevant security agencies to immediately restore all security measures around traditional leaders, whose roles are vital in maintaining communal harmony and cultural identity.

POSITION OF UNITED NATIONS ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres recently on April 22nd , 2025 said that “the individual and collective rights of Indigenous Peoples are non-negotiable,” he made this known at the opening remarks to the Permanent Forum of the United Nations which is still currently ongoing under the theme “Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within United Nations Member States and the United Nations system, including identifying good practices and addressing challenges.”

Describing Indigenous Peoples as “the preeminent stewards of the world’s biodiversity and the environment”, the Secretary-General highlighted the difficulties they face, including marginalization, discrimination, unemployment, economic disadvantage, horrendous violence, climate change, and illegal mining on their land.

“We know how to right these wrongs,” he said, noting that the United Nations Declaration —adopted in 2007 — laid out a blueprint for securing the survival, dignity and well-being of Indigenous Peoples everywhere and has been used by courts, parliaments and communities to secure rights and galvanize political action.

A CALL TO ACTION

We urge all Lagos indigenes to rise in defense of our ancestral land. The acronym IBILE—representing Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe—must not be reduced to a historical relic. It is a symbol of our shared heritage and identity, and it must be protected.

We call on traditional rulers, political stakeholders, and civil society actors to unite in ensuring that Lagos remains under the guardianship of its rightful owners. The manipulation of democratic processes for partisan or personal gain must be resisted.

The Foundation reaffirms its commitment to peace, unity, and national progress, but not at the expense of justice, fairness, and the inalienable rights of indigenous peoples.

We hereby demand:

– Immediate cessation of all unconstitutional actions related to local government elections in Lagos.
– Full legislative rejection of the proposed indigeneship amendment.
– Non-interference by the federal government in state legislative affairs.
– Restoration of security to traditional rulers, if the alleged case of Oniru and Elegushi is true.
– Protection of Lagos State from any declaration of emergency under political pretext.

SIGNED:
Media Team
De-Renaissance Patriots Foundation

Wednesday April 23, 2025.