Some
Lagos State indigenes, under the aegis of Eko Foundation, have faulted the
appointment of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, as the chairman of the Lagos
at 50 Committee, saying it is wrong.
At
a press conference on Saturday, the group also rejected the appointment of a
former chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service as the committee chairman
of the N25bn Empowerment Trust Fund.
The
President of Eko Foundation, Prof. Oluwole Smith, said the group had observed
that for the past 18 years, successive governments in the state had a penchant
of marginalising “true indigenes” in appointments, adding that thenceforth, any
government’s decision to give sensitive appointments to non-indigenes of the
state would be resisted.
Smith
said, “There are many elders, former governors, former ministers, and public
and civil servants who are Lagos State indigenes and who are eminently
qualified to celebrate their state.
“Prof.
Wole Soyinka’s choice is an insult to the indigenes and we urge him to decline
to serve so that he would defend his reputation as an activist who has
tirelessly fought wrongs and injustices.”
Smith
observed that the choice of Alhaji Rasheed Gbadamosi, an indigene, to co-chair
the committee with Soyinka was “a deception and mischievous make-believe”.
He
said, “We have decided to cry out. We can no longer keep silent and pretend
that all is well when in fact it appears that there is no future for the
indigenes of this state.
“At
the moment, we have a non-indigene as a senator, several non-indigenes in Lagos
State House of Assembly and in the executive council of the state. In the past,
indigenes of other states have taken over our ministerial slot and occupy
positions in the state and the federal levels. These are not happening in any
other state in Nigeria.”
Smith
said the indigenes would thenceforth closely monitor the activities of the
present administration in the state, warning that appointments in the state
must conform to Federal Character Commission Act, the constitution of the
country and other subsidiary legislation.
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