Anita Ogona
Indigenes of Lagos State, under the aegis of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, have said that they will never be part of Western Region or Province in the event that the ongoing plans through a Bill seeking the return of Nigeria to regional government system eventually turns out to be true.
De Renaissance Patriots Foundation gave this position at the weekend in a statement by its media office, copy of which was made available to newsmen, against the backdrop of “A bill for an act to substitute the annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a new governance model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” which went viral and was said to have been drafted by one Akin Fapohunda.
The group of indigenous Lagosians said the proposed bill, seeking for the approval of the National Assembly, which spokesperson of the Upper Chamber, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, had since denied of its existence or consideration, should leave Lagos State people out of being part of the Western Region.
The Prince Adelani Adeniji-Adele-led natives said it insisted on this position based on its experience of some leaders in South West who were now finding it difficult to own up to their own plans after they were exposed.
“This bill that is being proposed or suggested spells an ominous sign to us from Lagos State. It is a further attempt to subsume our aspiration into a larger group that is antithesis to whatever we believe in as indigenes of the state
“The first most important is that vast consultations were not held on the matter to find out if being submerged into another subgroup is a thing we desire. It cannot be generally assumed.
“Generally and since Lagos and its environs became a colony, we have always maintained that we prefer a stand alone status and not be part of any Western Region or Province. Our Clarion call has always been ‘GEDEGBE LEKO WA,’” the group said.
Speaking further, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation recalled that in the history of over 100 years, Lagos indigenes in their various forms, towns and villages had never made progress and development as part of any region not to talk of the Western Region, noting that the brief balkanization of the state to be part of the Western Region was an aberration.
“Nothing should be assumed especially from the contents of this proposed bill, especially if it has the inclusion of Lagos State as part of any region. We demand a referendum to actually reflect the wishes of the people.
“We, the indigenes of Lagos State, do not wish to be part of the regional state as being proposed in the Bill returning Nigeria into Regional government. Our leaders and Traditional Rulers opposed it in 1953 and we gained respite in 1967. We, offspring of our heroes‘ past, will not accept it,” the group stared.
It, therefore, called on Senators and House of Representatives members representing the state in the National Assembly to consult with the elders, statesmen and stakeholders before taking any action on the Bill, arguing that the issue on ground was beyond the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and state government affairs.
“We enjoin our representatives in the National Assembly to consult with the elders statesmen and stakeholders before taking any action on the Bill. This is beyond the ruling party and state government affairs. Lagos State cannot be brought into nothingness through the South West Region proposal by this Bill surreptitiously.
“The old cry of our struggle during colonial rule still stands: ‘GEDEGBE L’EKO WA,’” the group of indigenous Lagosians declared
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