A coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youths has vowed to block the ambition of Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, to contest the 2027 governorship election in Lagos State.
The group firmly opposed the endorsement of Seyi Tinubu by the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, arguing that it represents an attempt by “faceless individuals” to deprive the people of Lagos their right to self-governance.
Abdul Kareem Whyte, president of the coalition, issued the statement in reaction to the declaration made by CONYL, which endorsed Tinubu during a meeting in Owerri, Imo State. Whyte expressed that while Seyi Tinubu, like any Nigerian, has the right to contest for public office, his endorsement was “anti-democracy” and part of a larger plot to marginalize the indigenous people of Lagos.
“We have seen the recent endorsement of Seyi Tinubu for the Lagos governorship by the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, a group claiming to represent youth groups across all six geopolitical zones. While we recognize Mr. Tinubu’s right to pursue any democratic office, we condemn this endorsement, which we view as a direct attack on the rights of Lagos indigenes to govern their state,” Whyte stated.
The group also pointed out that since 1999, only one true indigene of Lagos has assumed the office of governor, resulting in a history of marginalization of the state’s indigenous people. They added, “Since 1999, no true Lagos indigene has taken over the mantle of leadership in the state, with the exception of one individual. This ongoing marginalization undermines the essence of democracy and denies Lagosians the right to govern themselves.”
In response to the growing political tension, Whyte suggested that non-indigenes like Seyi Tinubu should seek public office in other regions where such concerns are not prevalent. “We know that there will soon be a vacancy in Osun State, where Mr. Tinubu can pursue his democratic rights unhindered. If the people of Owerri are also keen on benefiting from his experience, they should support him to succeed Governor Uzodinma in Imo State,” he stated.
The Lagos Indigenous Youths coalition also declared that “there is no vacancy for non-indigenes in Lagos State in 2027,” stressing that the ongoing marginalization has contributed to the state’s underdevelopment. The group highlighted the lack of development in the hinterlands, poor road infrastructure, the state’s growing debt, and the distortion of traditional systems by successive governments. “The marginalization has led to the underdevelopment of Lagos State, where our hinterlands remain neglected, roads are in a state of disrepair, and our traditional systems have been disturbed by successive governments,” they said.
The coalition also raised alarms about efforts by non-indigenes to gain endorsements from traditional rulers in Lagos. They warned that such moves would not be tolerated and urged the Oba of Lagos to be vigilant. “We are aware of attempts by some non-indigenes to manipulate our traditional rulers for endorsements. One aspirant, for example, suddenly traced his roots to Ojo Local Government after spending over a decade in power without identifying with the Awori people of Ojo. We urge the Oba of Lagos to beware of these tactics.”
The group made it clear that they would take strong action if these efforts were allowed to continue. “If the Oba of Lagos allows these anti-Lagos Indigenous moves, we will fight dirty. We will not stand by as outsiders attempt to take over our state,” Whyte warned.
Additionally, Abdul Kareem Whyte called on the leadership of CONYL to refocus their efforts on promoting good governance and policies that benefit Nigerian youths instead of fomenting political unrest in Lagos.
“We advise the leadership of CONYL to direct their energies towards advocating for better governance and policies that truly benefit the youth, rather than instigating political crises in Lagos State,” he added.
