The De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, a group representing Lagos indigenes, stated on Tuesday that it has no issue with Igbo residents in the state but is concerned about Yorubas from other South-West states, as reported by Vanguard.
The group stated that its primary worry lies with non-indigenous Yorubas holding influential positions in Lagos.
During a visit to Ikorodu, the group’s president, Mr. Miftah Bolaji Are, said that some individuals from other South-Western states, who are not Lagos indigenes, occupy significant offices in the state.
Are expressed the group’s frustration with such individuals, accusing them of exploiting opportunities under the false pretense of being Lagos indigenes.
According to Are, the group has grown tired of these non-indigenous individuals and will no longer tolerate their actions, especially when they claim to be from Lagos. He noted that this misrepresentation has led to the marginalization of true Lagos indigenes.
Are further clarified that the group does not harbor any issues with the Igbo community in Lagos. He pointed out that some people mistakenly blame the Igbo for attempting to dominate Lagos, but the real concern, he argued, lies elsewhere.
He explained that it is not the Igbo who are involved in taking over lands or awarding Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-Os) to non-indigenous people, but rather individuals from other South-Western states. Are emphasized that these non-indigenous Yorubas are responsible for actions that harm the interests of Lagosians.
In his words: “We have no problem with Igbo. It is the South Westerners that are our problem. I have asked them, if you say Igbo want to take over Lagos, are the Igbo the ones who take people’s land and award the same to themselves? Are they Igbo who approve C-of-Os for those lands given out to other non-indigenes? So, I told them that they cannot send Igbo packing because Igbo are not our problem but the South Westerners who want to capture Lagos unjustiably.”
