The indigenes of Lagos State have demanded that the next governor of the state should be from among them.
At the end of its meeting last Wednesday, they also resolved that the offices of the Deputy Governor and the Speaker of the House of Assembly should be occupied by indigenes of the state.
Although history records that the primary indigenous groups of the state are the Awori, the Ogu (better known as Egun) and the Ijebu, indigeneship of the state also covers citizens with roots in the five divisions of Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos and Epe (Ibile).
The first civilian governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, who died on 11 February 2011, was originally from Omu-Aran (Kwara State), while President Bola Tinubu, who was governor between 1999 and 2007, is said to have his origin from Iragbiji in Osun State, although he was born in Lagos Island, where he grew up.
The immediate past governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode’s father is believed to have hailed from Ilaje Ese Odo in the present-day Ondo State, but the former governor was born at Epe General Hospital on 14 June 1963.
Sir Michael Otedola, who was governor from 2 January 1992 to 17 November 1993 and died on 5 May 2014 at age 87 years, hailed from Epe, while Mr. Babajide Raji Fashola, who was governor from 2007 to 2015, is an indigene of Isalegangan on the Lagos Island.
The incumbent governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who will be ending a maximum two-term tenure in May next year, is from Okepopo area of the Lagos Island.
Under the aegis of Lagos State Prominent Indigenes, the group resolved to support President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, but gave conditions for aspirants for the governorship, deputy governorship and House of Assembly speakership.
The criteria are that the aspirant:
• Must be a bona fide indigene of Lagos State, with verifiable ancestral roots
• Must possess the requisite academic and professional qualifications
• Must have demonstrable experience in governance, leadership, or enterprise (public and/or private sector)
• Must have a proven record of integrity, with no history of corruption or criminal infractions
• Must be individuals of sound character, discipline, and exemplary personal conduct
• Must have verifiable achievements within Lagos State and/or beyond
• Must demonstrate commitment to family values and societal responsibility
• Must be independent-minded, yet collaborative; focused on transformational leadership with humility.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting by the Convener, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, the decision was anchored on the need to ensure ‘equity, identity preservation, and deeper stakeholder alignment in the governance of Lagos State’.
They also pledged to engage constructively with all qualified aspirants, with the objective of identifying and supporting candidates best suited to steward the collective future of the state.
While the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed Saturday, 6 February 2027 for the governorship and state assembly elections, political parties are required to conclude the primary elections by 30 May, this year.
