Lagos APC Apologizes To Igbo: Appeals For Calm

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 apologized 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”

“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 guber 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”

“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 50years 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”