Foundation tackles Ambode over alleged relegation of Lagosians

LAGOS—Some prominent indigenes of Lagos State under the aegis of Eko Foundation have expressed  dismay about some political appointments and recent sack of some Permanent Secretaries in the state which they alleged was done against the interest of the indigenes of the state.

They, however, advised Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to desist from taking decisions that will continue to maginalise Lagos indigenes, saying that the group will no longer fold their hands and watch its people turn to “second fiddle” in their own state.

Eko Foundation is a Press release signed by its President, Prof Imram Oluwole Smith SAN and the secretary Kunle Uthman said: “The reasons for this palpable fear, apprehension, trepidation and ill-feelings are founded on the most recent sack and dismissal of indigenes in the Lagos State civil and public services; appointment of non indigenes as Chief-of-Staff and Commissioners; retirement of Permanent Secretaries who are Indigenes without any reasons given for truncating their careers; dissolution of duly constituted Commissions and Boards, which tenures were still subsisting; appointment of a non indigene as acting Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University, LASU, etc. “That the present Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor is an indigene of Ekiti State, thereby making it impossible for prominent Lagosians to have access to their government and acting as a clog in interface with the Governor. There is no State in Nigeria that will tolerate this anomaly and indulgence, which the indigenes consider very frustrating. Is it to be assumed that no indigene of Lagos State can occupy this extremely sensitive position?”

“The fact of the cosmopolitan nature of our State and large heartedness as a race are no justifications whatsoever to relegate us to “second fiddle” in our State. When push comes to shove, the non indigenes have a back up, while we, the indigenes have no other place to navigate to but remain in that geographical enclave, which is our state of origin.”

“Politically, more than ever before, we have several non indigenes representing our state in the House of Representatives and indeed in the State House of Assembly. Prominent positions in the Lagos State Civil Service are occupied by our brothers and sisters in neighbouring states, based on well orchestrated ill-motivated foresights of their predecessors.”