Lagos group urges Senate to halt confirmation of ambassadorial nominees

A Lagos socio-cultural organisation, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, has called on Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to halt the confirmation of two ambassadorial nominees listed as representatives of Lagos State, alleging that neither individual is an indigene of the state.

The appeal was contained in an open letter addressed to the Senate President and released to the media on Friday. 

Signed by the Foundation’s President, Mr Miftau Bolaji Are, and steering committee member, Dr Lateef Onikoyi, the organisation argued that the nominations violate the principles of fairness, constitutional balance and federal character.

According to the group, Lagos remains “the only state where ambassadorial and other federal appointments meant for its people are consistently assigned to non-indigenes,” a situation it described as a “persistent injustice.”

The Foundation named one nominee, Mrs Lola Akande, alleging she hails from Delta and Kwara states despite being listed as representing Lagos. 

The group also criticised the second nominee, Femi Pedro, claiming he had previously made derogatory remarks questioning the identity and legitimacy of indigenous Lagosians.

“The most recent ambassadorial nominations for Lagos State further entrench this anomaly:

Mrs Lola Akande, nominated as a Lagos representative, is not an indigene of Lagos State. She is known to hail from Delta and Kwara states and is the sister to the First Lady.

“The second nominee is also not an indigene of Lagos State. More concerning, he has publicly questioned the very existence and legitimacy of indigenous Lagosians. On an indigenous community platform, he asked: ‘Awon wo ni omo Eko na, melo ni won papa?’ (‘Who are these so-called Lagos indigenes and how many are they anyway?’)

“Such a statement is not only dismissive; it is profoundly disrespectful to the ancestral owners of Lagos,’” the letter stated, adding that approving nominees who “neither belong to nor respect the people they are purportedly nominated to represent” would deepen long-standing grievances.

“This practice violates the spirit and letter of the federal character principle, erodes constitutional balance, and undermines the rightful place of indigenous Lagos communities within the Nigerian federation. Worse, it sets a damaging precedent that the rights of one indigenous group may be trampled upon without consequence.

“Your Excellency, this matter transcends Lagos. It is a national question of fairness, justice and constitutional integrity.

“We therefore respectfully urge the Senate, under your distinguished leadership, to withhold confirmation of any nominee presented as a Lagos representative who is not a bona fide indigene of Lagos State.

“We seek no special favour, only the same fairness that every other state enjoys unchallenged.

“We trust in your commitment to justice, equity and the preservation of national cohesion. We are confident that under your leadership, the Senate will ensure Lagos is treated with the dignity and constitutional respect accorded to all states of the federation.

“We remain ready to appear before the relevant committees whenever required,” De Renaissance Patriots Foundation said.

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