The indigenous people of Lagos State have declared they will never be part of the Western Region or Province, in response to a rumored bill proposing Nigeria’s return to a regional government system.
Under the aegis of the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, the natives expressed their stance in a statement released by Prince Adelani Adeniji-Adele. This statement was a reaction to a purported bill seeking the National Assembly’s approval to revert Nigeria to its former regional system, which was said to be under consideration by the House of Representatives.
Despite the National Assembly denying the existence of such a bill, the group firmly stated that Lagos State will not align with the Western Region.
The rumored bill, which circulated on social media, was titled: “A bill for an act to substitute the annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a new governance model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
According to the group, the bill was allegedly drafted by an individual who is not a federal lawmaker and had remarked that if Nigeria could revert to its old national anthem, it should also return to the regional state system of government.
The De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, skeptical of the denial, reiterated its position based on the experiences of its leaders with the South West people. They claimed that those behind the bill have been hesitant to own up to their plans after being exposed.
“This proposed or suggested bill is a troubling sign for us in Lagos State. It attempts to submerge our aspirations into a larger group that contradicts our beliefs as state indigenes. There were no extensive consultations on this matter to determine if merging into another subgroup is something we desire. This cannot be assumed. Historically, since Lagos and its environs became a colony, we have always maintained a preference for a standalone status, not as part of any Western Region or Province,” the group asserted.
