Lagos indigenes in North America support a regional system of government.
They refute claims that Lagos is not part of Yorubaland.
The group highlights the historical and cultural evidence supporting Lagos’s Yoruba heritage.
Indigenes of Lagos State residing in North America have voiced their support for a regional system of government in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Balogun Olaseni Borokini on behalf of the group, they asserted that a regional system would acknowledge Nigeria’s diverse cultural, economic, and political identities, enabling more effective governance.
“We, the indigenes of Lagos, strongly support the move towards a regional system of government. This system recognises the unique cultural, economic, and political identities within Nigeria, allowing each region to govern itself more effectively,” the statement reads.
The group believes that a regional government for Lagos would honour its heritage and allow for better resource management and more efficient addressing of local needs.
The statement also addressed recent online discussions, particularly among some Igbo commentators, suggesting that Lagos is not part of Yorubaland. This narrative often cites a statement by Jaja Wachukwu, Principal Secretary of the Igbo State Union from 1948 to 1952, who referred to Lagos as “no man’s land.”
The Lagos indigenes in North America refuted these claims, underscoring the historical and cultural links between Lagos and the Yoruba people.
“Lagos, known as Eko in the Yoruba language, has been a significant part of Yoruba history for centuries. The city was primarily inhabited and governed by the Awori, a subgroup of the Yoruba people,” the statement explains.
They highlighted the city’s historical role as a Yoruba commercial and cultural centre, the enduring influence of the Oba of Lagos (a Yoruba monarchical title), and the pervasive presence of Yoruba language, traditions, and festivals in Lagos.
While acknowledging Lagos’s diverse and cosmopolitan nature, the group stressed that this inclusivity does not negate its Yoruba identity. They argued that historical evidence and cultural continuity undeniably support Lagos’s status as part of Yorubaland.
“The assertion that Lagos is ‘no man’s land’ often stems from its cosmopolitan nature, but it is crucial to distinguish between the city’s inclusive spirit and its historical identity. Yoruba people have continuously lived, ruled, and shaped Lagos, and this historical continuity cannot be dismissed,” the statement clarified.
The group concluded by urging for factual and culturally sensitive narratives in discussions about Nigeria’s governance and regionalism, advocating for the recognition and respect of Lagos’s Yoruba heritage.
