Indigenes of Lagos State have launched a complain against the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode of marginalising them in favour of none indigenes in the area of appointment.
taking steps to alienate
They accused the governor of sacking indigenous Lagosians holding key offices such as permanent secretaries and replacing them with non-indigenes.
A newly-founded group, Eko Foundation, in a statement today by Professor Imran Oluwole Smith as President and Kunle Uthman as the General Secretary, expressed dissatisfaction with the appointment of a non-indigene of the state as the acting Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University.
Titled: “Recognising, respecting and protecting the legitimate interests of the indigenes of Lagos State,” the statement reads in full: “The essence of Eko Foundation is clearly stated in the Preamble to our Constitution as follows:
“WE, the indigenous people of Eko, conscious of being sidelined and marginalised in the management of the socio-economic and political affairs of Lagos State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria are desirous:
1. To have a greater say in the governance of our people and state.
2. To occupy the commanding heights in the Administrative and Executive Class in the public service of Lagos State Government.
3. To accelerate the rate of progress and development of Eko/Lagos State.
4. To free our people from poverty, illiteracy, exploitation, disease, injustice and oppression.
“TO THIS END, we have resolved to form the Eko Foundation and it is hereby formed and henceforth it shall promote the social, welfare and political interests and cultural upliftment of the people of Lagos.
“The Indigenous people of Lagos State conscious of the provisions of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Federal Character Commission Act and the Guidelines made there under, observed with horror, dismay, consternation and disbelief the actions of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode against the indigenous people of Lagos State since his assumption of the leadership of the State in May this year.
“The reasons for this palpable fear, apprehension, trepidation and ill-feelings are founded on the most recent sack and dismissal of Indigenes in the Lagos State civil and public services; appointment of non indigenes as Chief-of-Staff and Commissioners; retirement of Permanent Secretaries who are Indigenes without any reasons given for truncating their careers; dissolution of duly constituted Commissions and Boards, which tenures were still subsisting; appointment of a non indigene as Acting Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU) etc.
“The fact of the cosmopolitan nature of our State and large heartedness as a race are no justifications whatsoever to relegate us to “second fiddle” in our State. When push comes to shove, the non indigenes have a back up, while we, the indigenes have no other place to navigate to but remain in that geographical enclave, which is our state of origin.
“Politically, more than ever before, we have several non indigenes representing our State in the House of Representatives and indeed in the State House of Assembly. Prominent positions in the Lagos State Civil Service are occupied by our brothers and sisters in neighbouring states, based on well orchestrated ill-motivated foresights of their predecessors. The Commissioner from the eastern part of Nigeria took charge of Budgeting and finances in Lagos State for almost 16 years, within which time he dutifully filled vacant positions in the State Civil Service, Agencies and departments in his Ministry with his brothers and sisters from that region. As at today, prominent positions and offices in our civil and public services are occupied by non-indigenes, which is not replicated or tolerated by any other State in the Federation. There has been consistent violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on federal character as non indigenes occupy the slots of Lagos State on Boards, Federal Government parastatals and foreign service.
“The Cosmopolitan nature of our State has become a curse and an albatross. We have nothing against non indigenes to live and prosper in our State and this is confirmed by our kindness, fairness and good nature towards them. However non indigenes more than ever before are conscious of the need to repatriate their corpses to their indigenous states of origin for burial, build mansions in their states of origin and gladly retreat to their indigenous States of origin for social festivals and landmark events, while for us, Lagos is Home.
“While we mop, cry and grieve on the role of some of our Royal Fathers in this political calculus, it is the elites and educated ones particularly those in government and positions of authority that must be held responsible for the pitiable relegation of our people.
“Many Lagosians have concluded that if the raging Tsunami is left unchecked and we, the indigenes ignore and continue to maintain this graveside silence and self induced dumbness and amnesia, our ‘siddon look” posture and I-Don’t-Care attitude will be irreparable and our forebears would hold us eternally blameworthy.
“The leadership of Eko Foundation (Eko Akete, Ile Ogbon) and its membership have collectively resolved that it will never ever again “siddon look” and pretend that all is well at the expense of our race. We will endeavour to periscope this administration and ensure that they correct obvious anomalies and anti-indigene policies and ensure that our efforts are duly recognised and appreciated; that our children are not treated with odium, disdain, ignored, relegated to the background, sidelined and made second class citizens within the socio-political dynamics of our State.
“It is important that our revered Royal Fathers, Senior Citizens, Former Governors, Lagosians in the diaspora and at home should lend their support to our efforts. Our ancestors are not happy in their graves and we all must collectively salvage our dignity as a race.” [myad]
