Wild complaints had trailed the demolition of the houses and possibly big markets belonging majorly to the Igbos in the state due to the fall-out of this year’s general elections.
Reacting to the situation at a world press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said the association can no longer watch from the sidelines.
He declared that part of their resolutions is also to protect the property and assets of Igbos legally acquired across the country from facing any form threat, appealing to the government of Lagos state to intervene and ensure that justice is done.
The elder statesman also disclosed that the association has concluded arrangements to establish an Ohaneze Relief Agency to be controlled by top Igbo leaders, to support Igbo citizens in distress over the loss of their property.
Iwuanyanwu equally urged Lagos governor to emulate President Bola Tinubu who never touched the property of any Igbo as the governor of Lagos for the eight years he spent.
He announced that having concluded the controversies over the presidential election through the Supreme Court verdict, in favour of President Tinubu, Ohaneze Ndigbo is left with no option than to recognise, respect and be loyal to him as the president of Nigeria.
His words: “At this point, I want to congratulate Igbos as very patriotic, loyal and faithful citizen of Nigerian. Nigeria in other to survive socially and economically requires foreign and local investments. I am proud to say my people the Igbo have made investments in all the nooks and cranny of the country.
“Where ever they go, they buy properties, build educational facilities. They transform barren lands to habitable lands. So in effect no ethnic group in Nigeria has made more investments in Nigeria than the Igbos. When a foreigner invests in Nigeria, he makes effort to repatriate his investment to his country, but the Igbo investor has his investment in Nigeria.
“The investment behaviour of Igbo is therefore a patriotic gesture which all leaders, governors, presidents should acknowledge. I encourage other ethnic group in Nigeria to do as Igbo are doing to invest in other regions outside their home of origin.
“I have carried out investigation on what has happened in Lagos, and I appeal to the government of Lagos state to intervene and ensure that justice is done. If any body fails to obey the laws of the land, the Igbo leadership will never support misconduct from any Igboman anywhere they live.
“I don’t have any doubt that there may be some instances where Igbo and perhaps other people whose property was demolished in Lagos did not fully comply with the laws of Lagos state. If any developer with impunity and without proper approval proceeds to develop a property anywhere in the world, he is taking a risk and his property stands the risk of being demolished.
“On the other hand if the properly is properly purchased, approvals from appropriate authority given before development, the individual deserves a happy and peaceful enjoyment of his assets. If any government demolishes the property built with approval of appropriate government department, such government by law must pay appropriate compensation for all the damages incurred to the owner of the building.
“I will make attempt to see the governor of Lagos state in the next few days. I will therefore appeal that the governor of Lagos state kindly suspends the demolition of buildings until all the facts are cleared,” he said.
Speaking further, the Ohanaeze boss said: “I have also got reports of violation of building regulations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. Because of the investment characteristics of Igbo, private properties and investments in Abuja are substantially owned by Igbos.
“I will advice my people the Igbo to ensure that they comply with all legislations and local regulations to avoid demolition of their properties in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria. It has been brought to my notice that many families have been thrown into serious difficulty due to the demolition in Lagos state. The Ohaneze Ndigbo will establish an Ohaneze Relief Agency to be controlled by top Igbo leaders. Ohaneze Ndigbo will through this Agency support Igbo citizens in distress; we will also support other Nigerians when the need arises in the spirit of brotherhood,” he announced.
On the decision to support Tinubu-led government, Iwuanyanwu, said: “The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu as governor of Lagos state was very good to Igbos. Throughout his tenure as the governor of Lagos state in eight years, There was no complain or report of any maltreatment of Igbos in Lagos. During his tenure I visited his home a number of times and he was very kind and patriotic fortunately Tinubu is now the president of Nigeria.
“We did not support him during the presidential election but that did not in any way undermine our trust of his capacity to lead the country. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled in his favour, President Tinubu can be rest assured that Ohaneze Ndigbo will recognise, respect and be loyal to him as the president of Nigeria.
“What Igbo require is peace, fairness justice and equity. We will demand what is our share, be given to us. We believe in one united Nigeria where people of different tribes, creed or ethnicity can move with pride and confidence and get what they rightly deserve without any hindrances,” he said.