A group of Lagos indigenes under the aegis of De Renaissance Patriots said it is a real and not faceless set of people, noting that the socio-cultural group comprises eminent Lagosians who were resolved to seek justice for the marginalised and persecuted indigenes.
De Renaissance Patriots, comprising Prof. Adele Jinadu as Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Retired Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Alternate Chairman), former Military Governor, Major General Leo Ajiborisha (Rtd.); Justice Solomon Olusola Hunponu-Wuse (Rtd.); Prince Adelani Adeniyi-Adele, Mr. Yomi Tokosi, Alhaji Mohammed Akin Martins, Dr. Wasiu Odofin, Engr. (Dr.) Lateef Adio Onikoyi, among others, said this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Media and Publicity, Prince BashirAdefaka, copy of which was made available to newsmen.
According to the release, these and others are highly distinguished personalities and respected indigenes behind De Renaissance Patriots, who have served the nation and the state well in different capacities.
The group of indigenes said it decided to come together under the umbrella of De Renaissance Patriots to enhance, promote and advocate for a better social order for the indigenes of Lagos State as well as initiate programmes for 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.”
This was just as the socio-cultural organization asserted in the release titled: “We are real and are not faceless people,” that part of its duties was 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, while further noting that “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,” pointedly declared that enough of deprivation and marginalisation of indigenes by non-indigenes from other states that had unlawfully grabbed the political power of their state since return of democracy in 1999.
The group lamented the situation where it said mis-development of the state was eating deeper into its “living system” was enormous, which it noted some indigenes unfortunately “were yet to grasp.”
The release, however, disclosed that the socio-cultural organization had made huge impact in sensitisation with many indigenous people now buying into the project, saying that other non-indigenous Nigerians resident in Lagos State had vowed to support them to actualise their goal.
“Now it is time for IBILE Eko people to take back their constitutionally granted Lagos State for them to administer it properly,” the group of indigenes declared.