8th April, 2015
The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has been wrongly vilified by a section of the populace in Lagos over an utterance he made concerning the Igbo earlier in the week.
A leader of the Igbo community in Lagos, and Chairman, Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association (LSMDA, Island zone), Chief Felix Ugbojiaku, has further debunked the wrong notion by reiterating the Oba’s kindness to Igbo in Lagos.
He described Oba Akiolu as a symbol of unity who has consistently ensured that all ethnic nationalities in Lagos are peacefully accommodated and allowed to prosper.
“Oba Akiolu has proven over the years to be a Royal Father that is dedicated to the prosperity and peaceful coexistence of everyone in Lagos, especially the Igbo,
and for some people to think that Oba Akiolu will make such comments is quite unfair,” Ugbojiaku said.
“There was a time my members, mostly Igbo, constantly had issues with the task-force, a situation that led to the closure of most of their stores. That challenge lingered until Oba Akiolu intervened and got those stores reopened,” he added.
He further stressed that the Oba also remains instrumental to the prosperity of the Igbo in the state, maintaining that “the enabling environment and security we get through Oba Akiolu’s influence has made our businesses thrive, both on the Island and across the state, and this is another testimony that proves beyond doubt that he is a kind King that shouldn’t be tagged as hostile.”
Chief Ugbojiaku was speaking at an event organised by the LSMDA to adopt All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, as their candidate in the gubernatorial election in the state on Saturday.
Meanwhile, The All Progressives Congress Lagos has asked Ndigbo in Lagos to ignore and forget the unfortunate statement credited to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, when he addressed some Igbo Chiefs in Lagos over the weekend.
In a statement signed by Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the State Publicity Secretary of the Party apologised most sincerely to Ndigbo to bury the hatchet in the interest of peace and harmony, considering the long standing relationship that has existed between Igbo and Yoruba since the inception of Nigeria.
“No human being is above mistakes. People can make mistakes and correct it thereafter. The Oba of Lagos can make a mistake and we believe that the statement credited to him was a mistake. If to err is human, we plead with Ndigbo to let the sleeping dog lie.”
He added that “after the March 28, 2015 Presidential elections Ndigbo in Lagos have been trooping into the Lagos APC fold in droves. They have pledged to throw their full weight behind the APC gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. The support was total and unprecedented. You can therefore imagine how we feel as a party when this incident came just few days to the governorship elections.
“Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos is not a card carrying member of APC. He is not a leader in APC. He does not speak for APC. He did not speak for Governor Fashola of Lagos State. He did not speak for our National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He did not speak for the incoming governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.
“His Royal Highness is at liberty to speak for himself and he spoke for himself only. Lagos APC appeals to Ndigbo not to take the statement as the position of the party in Lagos.”
Igbokwe further stated: “We passionately appeal to Ndigbo not to carry the statement credited to Oba Akiolu too far so as not to put a knife on things that have held us together for more than 50 years now. If out of annoyance you throw your cap away a mad man will take it and use it forever.
“A lot is at stake in Lagos. Lagos has been fair to Ndigbo and Ndigbo have reciprocated by taking Lagos as their home no matter whose ox is gored. Lagos APC believes that Ndigbo will not burn the bridges because of this minor setback.
“Lagos APC has worked so hard with other Nigerians to enthrone a government at the centre and we cannot afford to throw all these gains away by allowing the mistakes of the last weekend to stand on our way to link Lagos effectively with the centre. Our own Oba Rilwan Akiolu’s slip of tongue should not be used as an excuse by Ndigbo to reverse these huge gains. Ndigbo should forgive and forget by voting APC en mass this coming Saturday.”
Also, ahead of the governorship election, All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Otunba Jide Oni has vowed that the party will deliver Oshodi-Isolo Local Government to its governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode and House of Assembly candidates.
Oni made the remarks following poor result recorded in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government which saw APC House of Representatives losing to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate.
He said party chieftains in the area have closed ranks and started a house to house campaign aimed at encouraging electorate to vote for APC which won the centre in the last Presidential election, saying it would be a disadvantage to the state and the council area if APC should lose to the opposition party.
“We have realised our mistake and we are sure it will not happen again. A lot of our supporters who did not go to vote have assured us of their readiness to go out on Saturday to vote for Ambode and other APC candidates.”
Oni appealed to voters in the state to realize that the economic prosperity of Nigeria is tied to the economic prosperity of Lagos and “now that the wind of change has brought about a new dawn at the federal level, it is only appropriate for us to tap into it and benefit from the federal presence which was our bane in the second republic and even now in the fourth republic by consolidating on the responsible and responsive governance that we have witnessed in Lagos state in the last 16 years by voting for Ambode, the Consolidator as Governor for continuity and realization of our common goal.”
Leaders of the Igbo Town Unions, markets and traditional council in Lagos State on Tuesday also gathered at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun stadium to restate their support for the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, ahead of April 11 elections.
An Igbo Market leader, Chief Charles Ahize, said the adoption of Ambode’s candidacy is hinged on their resolve to partake in the progress of Lagos, especially as it aligns with their best interests.
“This is a meeting of reassurance. Since inception, the APC government in Lagos has been supportive and has also accommodated the Igbo. It is beyond doubt that the Igbo have prospered because of the enabling environment this government has given to us,” said Ahize.
“They say to whom much is given, much is expected. This is why we are united to give our support to Mr. Ambode, in order to continue the good that the APC has offered every Lagosian, including Ndigbo, in the last 16 years,” Ahize assured.
Pastor Okey Anorue, President Igbo Town Unions in Lagos, said the Igbos are committed to the victory of APC come Saturday.
“Our support is absolute, the APC and Mr. Ambode can count on us.”
The leader of the Igbo traditional council in Lagos, Eze Uche Dimgba, Eze Ndigbo of Ikeja, stated that Ambode is the one they readily relate with for his public service feats and proven accounting genius that has been undoubtedly instrumental to the thriving economy of the state which favours a lot of the Igbo people.
In his address Eze Dimgba said, “Indeed, our endorsement is hinged on the excellent job done by the previous Tinubu administration and the present Fashola administration in the last 15 years and 10 months, which has made Lagos the best state in Nigeria and the envy of all other states.
“We want this excellent job done by the APC in Lagos state to be sustained by the experienced and competent Ambode, and then replicated at the Federal level by a government headed by the credible, non-corrupt General Buhari”.
Speaking at the event, Ambode thanked the Igbos for aligning with the progressives and he urged them to remain resolute in their quest for a better Lagos.
“I appreciate your unflinching support for the APC. Lagos is our home and it is a good thing the Igbo here are interested in its progress. I will not discriminate. The prosperity that we all enjoy in the next four years will be for the benefit of all,” he said.
In conclusion, Ambode noted the essence of unity in achieving the much-needed continuity in Lagos, saying that “I am happy we are united to keep Lagos working, nothing will ever divide us. God bless the Igbo and all Lagosians.”