Kunle Adelabu
-Demand presentation of indigenes for council offices in next LG elections
A group of eminent Lagosians committed to restoring political power back to indigenes of Lagos State, has insisted that the next Governor, Deputy and members of the state executive council must be Lagosians, unlike what is obtainable at the moment.
The eminent personalities, under the aegis of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation (Lagos State), while charging Lagosians to fight for their political rights, also enjoined them to start their political emancipation from the next local government elections in 2025, by fielding indigenes for Chairmanship and Councilorship positions.
The group, which was led to Ikorodu, by Major-General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd), the alternate Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the group, as part of its consultation across the five Divisions (IBILE), gave the charge on Saturday.
Also part of the group that met with the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, and other eminent individuals in Ikorodu, were Prince Adelani Adeniji – Adele, President, Mr Yomi Tokosi, General Secretary, Engr. Adedoyin Daudu Kuti, Mr Tajudeen Olakunle Bakri, a retired Commissioner of Police, Mr Taiwo Umar, a retired banker, and Mr Bolaji Are, Treasurer among others.
Among those from Ikorodu that received them were Dr Tiwalade Odofin, a member of the group’s BOT, Bashorun Babatunde Rotinwa, former Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Commission, Otunba (Dr.) Fatai Olukoga, a retired Permanent Secretary and former Special Adviser to the Governor, Dr Harrison Adeni, former President, Eko Club, Otunba Rafiu Adewale, a retired banker, Otunba Ishau Abiodun, retired Banker, Mr Wasiu Allison, retired civil servant and Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, former Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Developments among others.
Prince Adelani Adeniji – Adele, President of the group, setting the tone of the discussion, said that the group was formed to champion the emancipation of Lagos indigenes towards taking back the political power for the developments of the state and its indigenes now and in the future.
He commended the roles played by late Chief TOS Benson, Otunba Adeniran Ogunsanya and Chief Rashed Gbadamosi, in the development of Lagos State and making indigenes relevant.
“The renaissance came to the realization that our past presented a better future for the present and generations yet unborn than today. Why did I say this, Lagosians were in charge since the creation of Lagos State and managing our own affairs and progressing, but today, there is nothing of such and that is why we cannot leave today for tomorrow”, he said.
“Now is the time to wake our people up. We are not a political group, we are preaching IBILE principles and the need to take Lagos back to what we knew it to be and make sure that we actually take charge of Lagos.
“In essence, our group is demanding that we want our state back. We want to function the way other state functions. That is why we are to discuss and chat a way forward for Lagosians. We want the unity, cooperation and support for the ideals and principles of De Renaissance, so that we can come together to achieve our aims. We have highly responsible, capable and reliable people that are leading us.
Prince Adele, using the words of BOT Chairman, De Renaissance, Prof. Ilyas Adele Jinadu, described what Lagosians are going through as ‘genocide by immigration’ which, according to him, has made them lose political and other rights in their own state.
“To guide against further ‘genocide’ against Lagosians, Prof. Adele said that is why the issue of indigeneship was enshrined in the constitution. This is to show that Lagos or any state in Nigeria, is not a no man’s land. We were also warned that the constitution is a little silent on the indigeneship and that is why we have to fight for it.
“Our land is as important to us as it is to the trees. God gave us our lands to benefit from it. Benefits from all the resources – human, minerals and other factors. It is the fault of everyone if we are given land and failed to benefit from it.
“It is now time for Omo Eko (Lagos indigenes) to take charge and demand for their rights. This is not a riot or going out to fight physically, rather, it’s going to be strategic and intellectual because we have capable hands and history is on our side, and the only thing remaining is the will and commitment. We must develop camaraderie spirit to work together”, he appealed.
Major – General Tajudeen Olanrewaju expressed satisfaction over the discussions and feedback from the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, on the pursuit of the group, and emphasized the need for Lagos indigenes to re-establish themselves.
He frowned at what he called the loss of political powers by the Lagos indigenes to non-indigenes, and charged for change of the status quo starting from the next Local Government elections coming up next year.
“It is time for us to re-establish ourselves as indigenes of Lagos State. The last four or five years have created unimaginable void for us. All the five Divisions in the state are suffering in silence and nobody was complaining as they were taking things away from us. We all lost our lands and we are being displaced gradually and losing everything.
“They have taking away powers from our Obas and chieftaincy generally. I belong to a chieftaincy and ruling families and I can tell that they have taking everything away. They are the ones that are appointing Baales and other chiefs to our Obas. In some places, some Baales are from elsewhere and not Lagos. They are creating new ruling houses.
“You lose everything if you don’t control the political power. If you are in your state and you can’t produce the Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker of the House of Assembly, you are losing everything. What they are trying to do is to take Lagos away from the IBILEs”.
The retired General said that the group will support any cause by Lagos indigenes or any of the IBILEs, while also emphasizing the need for Lagos indigenes to take back the control of the state political system.
“Why we setup the renaissance is to act as a platform for all indigenes to use in fighting their cause. We will be ready to take up any cause by any indigene free of charge. We stand as renaissance to fight the cause of IBILE which are the five Divisions of Lagos State, without any exception.
“After seeing the Ayangbure, we are going to see the Oba of Lagos, Badagry and others. Thereafter, we are going to come out and tell Lagosians to defend their mandate, starting from the Local Government elections in 2025 and 2027. Take your people to be the Chairmen and Councilors in various councils, so that you can demand your rights from them.
“We are ready in the coming elections. We want an IBILE person from any of the Divisions, to be the Governor of Lagos State, Deputy Governor and not only that, we would control the House, whether the APC or PDP, and if anyone is bringing any other person, tell them no”.
Speaking earlier, Dr. Tiwalade Odofin, a BOT member, while welcoming the members of the group and eminent persons in Ikorodu to the interactive session, said that the objectives of the De Renaissance is important and everybody must be on the same page.
Bashorun Babatunde Rotinwa, a former Head of Service, who welcomed the idea and principles of the group, called for total commitment and dedication if the laudable objectives are going to be achieved.
Meanwhile, the technocrat did not mince words when he said that the problem started from the Lagos Island and called for change of attitudes, especially in the usage of ‘EKO’ in everything that the state government initiated.
“Lagos Island is a major culprit in all these, because all these problems started from there and we must change the usage of ‘EKO’ in everything that the Lagos State Government is doing. It should not be so, rather, it should reflect ‘IBILE’ and not ‘Eko’. The funds being used in executing those projects tagged as such is meant for the entire Lagos State and not Lagos Island alone, it should be IBILE”.
He also condemned selling of Lagos State Government lands, stating that such lands were preserved when they were in government, for future developments and were not meant for personal use.
The former Special Adviser, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, while supporting the idea, charged that IBILE must take a firm stand on the principles and ideals of De Renaissance Patriots.
Former President, Exclusive Club and a retired Banker, Dr Adeniji Harrison, who also welcomed the idea, added that indigenes who are after political gains, are the problems and not the outsiders.
He warned against such characters and called for total commitment and dedication if the laudable objectives are to be achieved.
Harrison, who contested for the Ikorodu Federal House of Representatives seat some years back, also warned against making the movement the preserve of the elites. He called for a massive campaign in order to carry along the youths, market men and women and others.
