A Lagos-based socio-cultural organisation, De Renaissance Patriots, has stated that political parties in Nigeria must pick their candidates for governorship position in the state from the indigenous people of Lagos “Ibile Eko.”
The group stated this in a release titled, “We are real, we are not faceless people: Men behind De Renaissance Patriots appear,” signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka, a media and publicity consultant of the group.
According to the group, which also listed their members, the indigenes said that they would no longer tolerate other South-West states coming to hijack elective positions in their state, while their communities and villages are left in ruins.
The statement indicated that De Renaissance Patriots, a socio-cultural organisation was established to lead a better Lagos State for the state indigenes, adding that those behind the group are not hiding or faceless as may be conceived by politicians.
“We are real and are not faceless people,” adding that “Our mission has been made clear from the first to third releases we issued.”
Adefaka said that the group “is not fighting anybody but 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.”
He said that the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation debuted last year with the men behind it proclaiming “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.”
The spokesperson explained that highly distinguished personalities of Lagos State indigenes had come to say enough of the deprivation and marginalisation of indigenes by non-indigenes from other South West states that have unlawfully grabbed the political power of their state since the return of democracy in 1999.
They are saying “Now it is time for IBILE Eko people to take back their constitutionally granted Lagos State for them to administer it properly.”
The group, according to the statement, noted that it had issued three media releases and wanted to use this fourth statement to answer all regularly asked questions about who they were, and the people behind the group.
“Therefore, before we are labelled, profiled, and defined in garbs that disrespect our persons, motives, and inclinations, we invite the interested public to have a glimpse into the highly distinguished personalities behind De Renaissance Patriots Foundation. These are respected indigenes, who have served the nation and the state well in different capacities,” said the Secretariat of De Renaissance Patriots.
According to the statement, the group listed Professor Adele Jinadu, former Director-General, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) and currently Chairman of, the Election Analysis Centre of the Centre for Democracy and Development, as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation while Maj-Gen. Tajudeen Adeniyi Olanrewaju (rtd), former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Armoured Division Nigerian Army, former Member Provisional Ruling Council, former Minister of Communications and Member Federal Executive Council (FEC) and one time Deputy Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow, as the Alternate Chairman of the BoT.
Other members are, “Retired Major General Leo Ajiborisha, Pioneer Military Administrator of Osun State and former Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief during the General Abdulsalami Abubakar military regime, as an honoured Trustee; Retired Justice Solomon Olusola Hunponu-Wusu; Alhaji Mohammed Akin Martins, a specialist in markets development, honoured Trustee; Dr. Wasiu Tiwalade Odofin, United States-trained scientist as an honoured Trustee; Prince Adelani Adeniyi-Adele, son of late Oba of Lagos, Oba Musendiku Adeniji-Adele II, and a repository of African History, as President of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation.
“Mr. Yomi Tokosi, former Managing Director/Chief Executive of First African Trust Bank and currently Chairman of Riggs Ventures West Africa PLC, as Secretary General; Alhaji Miftah Bolaji Are, United States-trained economist and former several Lagos State Councils’ Treasurer, as honoured Trustee; Dr. Wasiu Tiwalade Odofin, a United States of America-trained scientist; and Barrister Yakubu Eleto Esq, as Youth Leader/Legal Adviser to De Renaissance Patriots Foundation with Retired Commissioner of Police, CP Tajudeen Olakunle Bakare (Rtd), listed as ex-Officio and Engr. (Dr.) Lateef Adio Onikoyi, who retired from Lagos State public service as Chief Engineer (Electrical), listed as the Researcher of the Group.”
According to the release, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation is designed to enhance, promote and advocate for a better social order for the indigenes of Lagos State as well as initiate programmes, including but not limited to conferences, newspaper advertorials, press releases, and 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 are paramount as our objective.
SaharaReporters reports that President Bola Tinubu, who governed Lagos State between 1999 to 2008, is reportedly not an indigene of Lagos State. (SaharaReporters)
