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Lagos indigenes, operating under the banner of the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, have accused the Senate of disregarding formal petitions submitted against the confirmation of some ambassadorial nominees.
In a statement released by its Media Office, the group disclosed that it had written multiple petitions to President Bola Tinubu and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, objecting to the nomination of Mr Femi Pedro and Mrs Lola Akande.
The Foundation maintained that both nominees are not indigenes of Lagos State and, therefore, should not represent the state.
The group said it was taken aback by reports quoting the Senate President as saying that the confirmation process moved forward because there were no significant objections to the nominees.
Describing the remark as misleading, the Foundation insisted that its opposition was formally and clearly conveyed to the Senate leadership.
According to the statement, the group unequivocally rejected the nomination of Pedro and Akande, arguing that Lagos State has qualified indigenes who are constitutionally entitled to occupy such positions.
It stressed that other South-West states, including Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti, are represented by their own indigenes, and Lagos should not be treated differently.
The Foundation further alleged that non-indigenes from neighbouring South-West states have, over time, deliberately sidelined Lagos natives from political influence and access to opportunities within the state.
It lamented what it described as a persistent pattern of marginalisation dating back to 1999, claiming that Lagos indigenes have been consistently denied the freedom to determine their political leadership, including the emergence of governorship candidates.
“This is a clear case of tyranny,” the group said, adding that Lagos natives are gradually being stripped of their constitutional rights while individuals with other states of origin continue to dominate political privileges in Lagos.
The group also expressed disappointment in the Senate, noting that as a body meant to reflect Nigeria’s diversity, it failed to address what it termed an ‘unprecedented injustice’ against the indigenous people of Lagos State.
Group faults Senate over confirmation of ‘non-indigenes’ as Lagos ambassadors
