The Coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youths has strongly rejected the recent endorsement of Seyi Tinubu as the next governor of Lagos State.
The endorsement, made by the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, an umbrella organization for youth groups across the six geopolitical zones, was announced following a meeting in Owerri, Imo State, on Tuesday.
In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Abdul Kareem Whyte, the Lagos-based youth group expressed its opposition to the endorsement, emphasizing that there should be no room for non-indigenes to govern the state in 2027. The statement firmly stated that the position of governor should remain reserved for indigenous Lagosians.
The Lagos youths condemned the endorsement as “anti-democracy” and accused CONYL of attempting to undermine the rights of Lagos indigenes to govern their own state. They highlighted the long-standing issue of marginalization, arguing that since 1999, very few true Lagos indigenes have held the office of governor. They described this as a denial of the people of Lagos the right to self-determination.
The statement further suggested that Seyi Tinubu, who is the son of President Bola Tinubu, should pursue his political ambitions in other states, such as Osun, where there would be “vacancy” for him to exercise his democratic rights. The youths also proposed that if the people of Imo State were interested in his political experience, they could advocate for him to run for office in their state.
The statement went on to highlight the perceived underdevelopment in Lagos, particularly the lack of progress in the state’s hinterlands. The group accused successive governments of neglecting infrastructure development, including poor roads, mounting debts, and the disruption of the traditional system. They also expressed concern about efforts by non-indigenes to gain endorsements from Lagos’ traditional rulers, with one political aspirant allegedly attempting to trace his roots to the Ojo Local Government area after years in power without prior connection to the Awori people.
The Lagos youths issued a stern warning to the Oba of Lagos, urging him to be cautious of individuals seeking to claim indigeneship in the run-up to the 2027 elections. They vowed to “fight dirty” if such moves were allowed.
The group also called on the leadership of CONYL to focus on advocating for good governance and policies that would benefit Nigerian youth, rather than fostering political division in Lagos State.
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to the recent endorsement of Seyi Tinubu for Lagos governor by a group known as Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL) and the group is described as the the umbrella body of all the youth groups drawn across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
“The said Coalition sat in Owerri, Imo State and publicly issued the statement on endorsement, while we know Mr Seyi Tinubu has his democratic rights as a Nigerian, we condemn the ill-fated endorsement and described it as anti-democracy and a deliberate move by some faceless individuals to deny indigenes of Lagos State right to govern themselves in 2027.
“It is no longer news that since 1999 no true blood indigenes of Lagos State have taken over the mantle of leadership in the State (except one), the marginalization which underscores the essence of democracy and an outright denial of the indigenes of Lagos State the right to govern themselves.”
The statement further read, “We know as a fact that there will soon be vacancy in OSUN STATE where Mr Seyi Tinubu can best exercise his democratic rights unhindered. And if the people of Owerri in Imo are also interested in benefiting from the experience Mr Seyi Tinubu has acquired in recent times, they can push him to succeed Governor Uzodinma.
“As for us there is no vacancy for non indigenes in Lagos State in 2027. The marginalization is too much and the marginalization has led to the underdevelopment in the state.
Claiming that Lagos is not developed, the youths said, “It’s unbelievable that since 1999, our hinterlands are not developed, no good roads, Lagos State leaving on debts and our traditional system distorted by successive governments.
“We are also aware of the moves by some non-indigenes to penetrate our traditional rulers in getting endorsements and ratifications from them.
“Recently, one of the aspirants suddenly traced his ancestry to Ojo Local Government after spending more than a decade in power without identifying with the Awori People of Ojo in Lagos State.
“We are hereby calling on the Oba of Lagos to beware of persons who will soon seek indigenship of Lagos State because of 2027.
“We will fight dirty if the Oba of Lagos allows such anti Lagos Indigenes move.
”We advise the leadership of CONYL to channel their energies towards advocating for good governance and policies that will benefit the youth constituency rather than instigating political crises in Lagos State.
