The natives of Lagos State have expressed their firm opposition to any plans that would incorporate Lagos into the South West region, in light of a bill proposing the return of Nigeria to a regional system of government.
They assert that they were never part of the South West states during the era of regional governance.
The De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, representing the natives, issued a statement through its Media Office. The statement disclosed that a proposed bill, which seeks the National Assembly’s approval to revert Nigeria to a regional system, is up for consideration. However, it emphasized that the people of Lagos State will not consent to be part of the Western Region.
In a statement by Adelani Adeniji-Adele of the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, it was stated: “The proposed bill presents a foreboding sign to us from Lagos State. It appears to be another attempt to submerge our aspirations into a larger group that contradicts our beliefs as natives of the state.
“First and foremost, extensive consultations were not conducted on the issue to determine if we desire to be absorbed into another subgroup. This cannot be generally presumed.
“Ever since Lagos and its surroundings became a colony, we have consistently asserted our preference for an independent status, rather than being part of any Western Region or Province.
“Recently, our various indigenous groups have consistently maintained that we, as natives of Lagos, have always been at a disadvantage with our neighbors in the South West. They perceive nothing positive in us and are only interested in a project that marginalizes us and views our state as ‘spoils of war’.
“We remember that in our history spanning over 100 years, Lagos natives, in all their diversity, towns, and villages, have never achieved progress and development as part of any region, let alone the Western Region. The brief fragmentation of our state to be part of the Western Region was an anomaly.
“Nothing should be assumed, especially from the contents of this proposed bill, particularly if it includes Lagos State as part of any region. We demand a referendum to reflect the people’s wishes.
“We, the natives of Lagos State, do not wish to be part of the regional state as proposed in the Bill returning Nigeria to the regional government. Our leaders and traditional rulers opposed it in 1953, and we gained relief in 1967. We, the descendants of our past heroes, will not accept it.
“We urge our representatives in the National Assembly to consult with elder statesmen and stakeholders before taking any action on the Bill. This issue transcends the ruling party and state government affairs. Lagos State cannot be reduced to insignificance through the South West Region proposal by this Bill surreptitiously. The old cry of our struggle during colonial rule still stands.”
