Lagos Indigenes Slam Senate Over ‘Non-Native’ Ambassadors

The indigenous people of Lagos State, operating under the banner of the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, have launched a blistering attack on the Nigerian Senate, accusing the red chamber of “tyranny” and a blatant disregard for the constitutional rights of native Lagosians. The group’s outcry follows the recent confirmation of ambassadorial nominees, a process they claim was marred by the sidelining of qualified indigenes in favor of individuals they categorize as “non-natives” of the state.

In a heated statement released through its Media Office, the Foundation targeted the nominations of former Deputy Governor Mr. Femi Pedro and Mrs. Lola Akande. The group contends that neither of the two appointees possesses ancestral roots within Lagos State, arguing that their selection to represent the state on the global stage is a direct insult to the millions of original inhabitants who are constitutionally entitled to such prestigious roles.

The dispute took a sharp turn when the Foundation reacted to comments attributed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. According to the group, Akpabio allegedly claimed that the confirmation process proceeded smoothly because no significant objections were raised. The Foundation has branded this claim as “misleading” and “untrue,” asserting that they had submitted multiple formal petitions to both the Presidency and the Senate leadership long before the final vote on December 18, 2025.

“Our opposition was formally and clearly conveyed,” the statement read, as the group expressed shock that their documented grievances were seemingly tossed aside by the lawmakers. The patriots emphasized that their rejection of Pedro and Akande is rooted in the principle of federal character, which they believe is being systematically violated. They alleged that Mrs. Akande, for instance, hails from Delta and Kwara states, making her an inappropriate representative for Lagos under extant guidelines.

The group drew a sharp contrast between Lagos and other states in the South-West geopolitical zone, such as Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, and Ekiti. They pointed out that these states are consistently represented by their own biological indigenes in federal appointments. The Foundation lamented that Lagos is being treated as a “no-man’s land” where political patronage is used to reward individuals from neighboring states at the expense of the local population.

A more profound grievance aired in the statement touches on a “persistent pattern of marginalization” that the group traces back to the return of democracy in 1999. They alleged that a political elite, largely composed of non-indigenes from neighboring South-West states, has systematically stripped Lagos natives of their freedom to determine their own political leadership. This includes the selection of governorship candidates and other high-ranking executive positions that have been dominated by figures with roots outside the traditional five divisions of Lagos (IBILE).

“This is a clear case of tyranny,” the Foundation declared, warning that the indigenous people are being pushed to the periphery of their own heritage. They argued that the Senate, which is designed to reflect Nigeria’s rich diversity and protect minority interests, has failed in its duty by allowing this “unprecedented injustice” to stand. The group believes that the continued exclusion of natives from key roles is a ticking time bomb for the state’s political stability.

The statement concluded with a call for a total overhaul of the criteria for selecting Lagos representatives at the federal level. The De Renaissance Patriots Foundation insisted that the state has an abundance of highly qualified intellectuals and diplomats who are “true sons and daughters of the soil.” For the group, the confirmation of the current nominees is a dark chapter that underscores a growing disconnect between the federal government and the legitimate aspirations of the Lagosian people.