De Renaissance Patriots has replied to a columnist, Lekan Sote over his characterization of the Lagos De Renaissance Patriots as a far-right group.
According to a statement by the Media Office of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation and made available to ASHENEWS on Wednesday, the socio-cultural group, which is composed of senior, eminent citizens of Nigeria, culturally and constitutionally recognized as indigenes of Lagos State, took exception to Sote’s comments, describing it as “uncharitable, malicious, and reckless language unacceptable.”
The Patriots said: “The inflammatory name-calling tarnishes our moral, social, intellectual, and political struggle, which is grounded in the promotion of our social and cultural values, and the rights of indigenes of Lagos State.
“Our foundation is not affiliated with any political agenda but is a non-political entity focused on advocating for the rights of Lagos indigenes. Our leadership includes senior citizens, retired elites, and committed indigenous communities from all five divisions of the state—Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Mainland, and Epe (IBILE).”
They further described as both shameful and irresponsible associating “the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation with the faceless hashtag #IgbosMustLeaveLagos or the so-called Lagospedia group. Our foundation is a highly respected socio-cultural organization in Lagos, and we stand firmly against any form of ethnic discrimination.”
Read the full statement below:
Our attention has been drawn to an article authored by Lekan Sote, published in the PUNCH Newspaper on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. Mr. Sote made several erroneous assertions in this piece, particularly his characterization of the Lagos De Renaissance Patriots as a far-right group.
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First and foremost, we take strong exception to the label of “far-right” being applied to the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation. As a socio-cultural group composed of senior, eminent citizens of Nigeria, culturally and constitutionally recognized as indigenes of Lagos State, we find such uncharitable, malicious, and reckless language unacceptable. The vitriolic label of “far-right” does a grave disservice to the responsible members of our foundation and does not accurately reflect our ideological stance.
To clarify, the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation is not a right-wing association. The inflammatory name-calling tarnishes our moral, social, intellectual, and political struggle, which is grounded in the promotion of our social and cultural values, and the rights of indigenes of Lagos State. Our foundation is not affiliated with any political agenda but is a non-political entity focused on advocating for the rights of Lagos indigenes. Our leadership includes senior citizens, retired elites, and committed indigenous communities from all five divisions of the state—Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Mainland, and Epe (IBILE).
Mr. Sote’s historical references, including the linkage to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, are also inaccurate. If the author is unfamiliar with the outcomes of the 1952 Constitutional Conference in London, we would gladly provide the necessary details at the appropriate time.
It is both shameful and irresponsible to associate the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation with the faceless hashtag #IgbosMustLeaveLagos or the so-called Lagospedia group. Our foundation is a highly respected socio-cultural organization in Lagos, and we stand firmly against any form of ethnic discrimination. We advocate for the inclusion of all citizens, particularly the indigenous people of Lagos, in the governance and development of the state. In a progressive society, governance should prioritize political, social, and economic benefits for all, ensuring that the natives receive their fair share of state resources.
While the ruling party may have achieved political success in recent elections, it suffers a moral and reputational deficit for sidelining the indigenous people of Lagos State. For 24 years, the native population has been marginalized, with few opportunities to ascend to top positions in state administration and the House of Assembly—where two-thirds of the members are non-indigenes. This situation is unprecedented in any other Nigerian state.
Our foundation will continue to uphold the principles of IBILE identities, credible values, and integrity, while remaining open to dialogue and supporting policies that recognize the meritocracy of our indigenous citizens, both at home and abroad. However, we will not hesitate to respond to reckless and derogatory statements, tyranny, and demagoguery.
In closing, we reaffirm that the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation is not a far-right group. We welcome the Igbo community in our midst and stand by their right to live, work, and conduct legitimate business in Lagos State. We call on the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to identify and prosecute the faceless group that falsely claims to speak for Lagosians.
