The leadership of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, a group of Lagos indigenes and elders, has picked holes in the governance of Lagos State, saying only an indigene can deliver the much desired changes.
President of the Foundation, Prince Adelani Adeniji-Adele, stated this when the body was hosted by Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Prof Adele Jinadu.
Adeniji-Adele who lauded Prof. Jinadu for receiving members of the steering committee appreciated his keen interest in the affairs of the indigenous Lagosians.
He said, “Governance of Lagos State is less than stellar and only the passion of an indigene can do the right things. We enjoin you to avail the group your wealth of experience as a public servant, an academic, an administrator and as an indigene of note in order to succeed,” Adeniji-Adele told the BOT Chairman.
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Another Trustee of the socio-cultural group, Mr. Gbadebo Dallas, took 80-year-old Prof. Jinadu down the memory lane of their youth days, where education, good environment, sterling leadership qualities were the order of the day, saying this is no longer the order of the day.
The meeting was the first to happen after the Indigenous group had made four successful media outings where it reiterated its mission to lead a better state for the indigenous people.
Retired Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Alternate Chairman Board of Trustees said the leadership provided by Prof Jinadu had become inevitable because the struggle for retrieval of Lagos was one that would not be easy but a must-do.
Responding, Prof Adele Jinadu said, “No one is too old for a cause like this because we are all affected by the marginalization, deprivation and persecution to which the Lagos State indigenes have been subjected”.
However, spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Seye Oladejo in a chat with our correspondent insisted Lagos has always been ruled by Lagosians and warned against any narrative that could divide the state.
He said, “They would need to shed more light on the context of the statement. Lagos has always been governed by Lagosians. What is out there is for our people to enjoy good governance and the dividends of democracy. The governor would not be distracted by needless politics.
“As a party, we would not be part of any narrative that would divide the people along ethnic, tribal and religious parts. In Lagos you find it difficult to differentiate between those who have come to Lagos to do business, those others might want to describe as settlers and those who are just passing through Lagos. We are all one big family.”
