A group of concerned Lagos indigenes under the banner of the De-Renaissance Patriots Foundation has raised a strong alarm over what it describes as the increasing marginalisation of indigenous people in Lagos State.
In a passionate open letter released by the group and signed by its President, Mr. Miftah Bolaji Are, the foundation accused political and traditional leaders of turning a blind eye to what it calls the “erosion of Lagosian identity” in the spheres of politics, economy, and culture.
The letter, titled “An Open Letter to Lagos State Indigenes,” takes a sweeping look at the state’s historical roots and current political realities, asserting that indigenes have been systematically sidelined in favour of non-native settlers who now allegedly dominate key government and cultural institutions.
> “Sojourners are no longer guests; they are now in charge and in control. And what’s worse, many of our own elders have helped them take the seat,” the letter read.
The foundation cited the most recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries as a glaring example of this alleged marginalisation, claiming that “a vast majority of candidates fielded across several local councils have no ancestral connection to Lagos State.”
According to the group, many Lagos-born aspirants were deliberately sidelined or discouraged, signalling a political structure that increasingly favours outsiders.
The group also criticised the perceived decline in the authority of traditional institutions across the five administrative divisions of Lagos (IBILE), warning that political interference has undermined long-standing customs and cultural values.
It alleged that individuals with no ancestral link to the state have been installed into chieftaincy positions in some communities, calling the development “an unthinkable reality in any other Yoruba kingdom.”
“The traditional authority of the kingdoms has diminished… The power to appoint subordinate chiefs and uphold age-old customs is now subject to political interference,” the letter said.
In a direct appeal, the foundation named dozens of prominent Lagos figures across political, cultural, and traditional spheres—ranging from Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu to former Minister of Works, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), and former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye—urging them to defend the “legacy they inherited.”
The group’s message, while emotional, insisted that the letter is not a call for hatred or exclusion but one for “justice, fairness, and self-preservation.”
> “Inclusion should never mean extinction. Coexistence must not translate to conquest,” the group warned.
They further accused some elders of trading away the future of indigenous Lagosians in exchange for political appointments and contracts, describing them as “modern-day traders of heritage.”
The letter ended with a clarion call for the protection and promotion of indigenous interests through cultural revival, political participation, and the support of qualified indigenes with vision and integrity.
It challenged stakeholders to choose between “silence or survival; complacency or courage; heritage or handouts.”
“Lagos is our home, not a memory and not a museum, but a living inheritance. And it is not too late to protect it,” the statement concluded.
The De-Renaissance Patriots Foundation has positioned itself as a voice for indigenous advocacy in Lagos, promising continued engagement on issues affecting the rights and recognition of Lagosians in their ancestral land.
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