Lagos indigenes under the umbrella of the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation have strongly criticized the National Assembly (NASS) for excluding key indigenous organizations from its recent engagement with South West traditional rulers on the ongoing constitutional review process.
In a statement issued Monday, July 7, 2025, the Lagos-based socio-cultural group condemned the July 4 meeting between the leadership of NASS and selected monarchs, which addressed sensitive issues such as indigeneship and the creation of 37 additional Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State.
According to the Foundation, the session lacked inclusivity and failed to engage critical stakeholders like De Renaissance Patriots and other indigenous groups who had previously made submissions opposing any move to replace the principle of indigeneship with residency.
“This selective and flawed public hearing risks plunging Nigeria deeper into constitutional crisis,” the Foundation warned, urging the Constitution Review Committee to reverse course before finalizing any recommendations.
The group stressed that NASS, as representatives of the people, must act with fairness and broad consultation. It emphasized that engaging only traditional rulers does not amount to genuine representation of the diverse communities in Lagos State.
De Renaissance Patriots expressed concern over what it described as a “systematic alienation” of Lagos indigenes by other South West groups and rejected what it sees as a hidden agenda to dilute their rights and identity.
“It is unacceptable that legislation aimed at replacing indigeneship with residency is being pushed, alongside moves to legitimize the 37 LCDAs,” the statement read. “This endangers the status and rights of the indigenous population and promotes domination by non-indigenes.”
The Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to defending the constitutional rights of Lagos indigenes and called for full stakeholder engagement in shaping the future of the Nigerian Constitution.
“The attempt to erase indigeneship is an attempt to turn Lagos into a ‘no man’s land’—a dangerous rewriting of history and identity,” the statement concluded.
