In a move that has ignited both support and backlash, several groups recently endorsed Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, as a potential candidate for the Lagos State governorship in 2027.
The endorsements, announced by various youth organizations and socio-political groups, have stirred heated discussions about leadership, democracy, and representation in Lagos State.
The Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL) was among the first to publicly back Seyi Tinubu. In a statement from Owerri, Imo State, the group praised his philanthropic efforts, citing his support for flood victims in Borno State.
“When there was flooding in Borno State, Mr Seyi and his team were there to sympathize and show support to those Nigerians whose property, homes and means of livelihood were destroyed by the flood.
“He gave a lot of gift items, food, home utensils, drugs and money to the affected persons during that period when the sad event took place,” the coalition said.
Similarly, the Middle Belt Youths and Friends of Seyi Tinubu (FOST) lauded his leadership skills and vision, with FOST describing him as a leader capable of ushering Lagos into a prosperous future.
However, these endorsements have met strong resistance. Joe Igbokwe, a prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) member, dismissed the calls as distractions, labeling them a calculated attempt to undermine the President.
Local groups in Lagos have also pushed back, particularly the Coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youths, which criticized the endorsement as anti-democratic. They emphasized the need for true indigenes to govern Lagos and rejected the idea of a non-indigene leading the state.
“Our attention has been drawn to the recent endorsement of Seyi Tinubu for Lagos governor by a group known as Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, CONYL, and the group is described as the umbrella body of all the youth groups drawn across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
“The said Coalition sat in Owerri, Imo State and publicly issued the statement of endorsement.
“While we know Mr Seyi Tinubu has his democratic rights as a Nigerian, we condemn the ill-fated endorsement and describe it as anti-democracy and a deliberate move by some faceless individuals to deny indigenes of Lagos State the right to govern themselves in 2027.
“It is no longer news that since 1999, no true blood indigene of Lagos State has taken over the mantle of leadership in the State (except one), the marginalization which underscores the essence of democracy and an outright denial of the indigenes of Lagos State the right to govern themselves.
“We know as a fact that there will soon be vacancy in Osun State where Mr Seyi Tinubu can best exercise his democratic rights unhindered.
“And if the people of Owerri in Imo are also interested in benefiting from the experience Mr Seyi Tinubu has acquired in recent times, they can push him to succeed Governor Uzodinma.
“As for us there is no vacancy for non-indigenes in Lagos State in 2027. The marginalization is too much and the marginalization has led to the underdevelopment in the state,” the group said.
The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) joined the opposition, with spokesperson Hakeem Amode declaring, “Lagos will not serve him.”
Amode asked whether governorship should become an inheritance, suggesting that it was inappropriate for a son to inherit such a role from his father.
He stressed that if the Tinubu camp were to resort to tactics similar to those used in Ondo and Edo states in the past, it would be met with resistance.
“Governorship is not a gift,” he stated.
Speaking to DAILY POST, a human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, described the endorsement as laughable, adding that it was a clear indication that the people of Lagos State were taken for granted.
He queried if Nigeria, particularly Lagos State, was practising a monarchical system of government, where a father would pass the baton of leadership to his son in a democratic society filled with eligible and competent citizens.
According to him, such a thing happens because there is no election, adding that what takes place in disguise of election is ‘selection.’
While noting that everyone has the right to contest for election, Adeyanju called on the political actors of Lagos State to rise.
“It is a laughable endorsement because they have underrated Lagos people. If they rate them, such calls would not even be arising.
“Is Lagos a monarchy state, where the Tinubu’s family is supreme? Is it that power is the birthright of the Tinubu’s family?
“Is there something that people don’t know that should be known about them? Because I just don’t understand and can’t explain it.
“It makes no sense that they underrated Lagos people. And it’s because elections don’t take place there, it’s just selection. And because strong political office holders are never held accountable by the people, that’s why things go the way they go.
“Nigeria is practising federalism and not monarchy where political powers are being inherited from the father to the son.
“It therefore behoves on the political actors of Lagos State to stand up and do what is right for the state,” he stated.
