The World Igbo Congress, a pan Igbo Cultural association, has described<\/p>\n
the Oba of Lagos, Alhaji Rilwan Akiolu, as a shame to the traditional
\ninstitution and the people he represents.<\/p>\n
Recall that Oba Akiolu had threatened to kill all Igbos in Lagos if the
\nAll Progressive Congress, APC, Candidate for the Governorship election
\ndoes not emerge victorious in Saturday’s polls.<\/p>\n
The Oba’s threat captured in both audio and video has attracted widespread
\ncondemnation.<\/p>\n
The Igbo group in a statement signed by its Chairman, Chief Joe Nze Eto,
\ncondemned in the strongest term what he observe to be “ethnic hate
\nmongering in Nigeria.” He said such is capable of “dislodging the inter
\nethnic jelly glue that holds one Nigeria.”<\/p>\n
The Statement reads:<\/p>\n
The utterances credited to Oba of Lagos, Alhaji Rilwan Akiolu as
\nrevealed in Thisday\u2019s publication of Monday, April 6 just took ethnic hate
\nmongering in Nigeria several steps towards dislodging the inter ethnic
\njelly glue that holds \u201cOne Nigeria\u201d. It is not a secret that inter-ethnic
\nsquabbles occur among the many peoples of Nigeria on daily basis. That is
\na way of life in Nigeria, and has been so far regarded as sibling rivalry.
\nHowever, when an Oba, presumed to be of royal stock stoops this low, all
\nNigerians of integrity who care about the goal of a unified \u201cOne Nigeria\u201d
\nshould be alarmed. What is more troubling about this Oba\u2019s utterances is
\nthe planning and pre-meditation surrounding its delivery. Then the Oba\u2019s
\nattempt to deny his actions at his so called royal palace fell flat as
\nrecorded audio of the proceedings exposed him in shameful contradictions.
\nHow much further can you shame a cultural institution that ought to
\nexemplify integrity and impeccable seat of wisdom for a people. Oba Akiolu
\nhas defecated on the throne, the people\u2019s trust, and should be kicked out
\nof it. He is truly an embarrassment to the people he purports to rule.<\/p>\n
In late summer of 2013, Governor Fashola \u201cdeported\u201d Igbo \u201cdestitute\u201d to
\nAnambra State in his infinite wisdom and to sanitize his state of Lagos.
\nHe did not think of \u201cOne Nigeria\u201d and his sworn obligation to defend and
\nprotect the sovereignty of One Nigeria, even as a governor of a state in
\nNigeria. Governed by ethnic myopia he acted against the Nigerian
\nConstitution he swore to up hold. If you stack Oba Akiolus\u2019s treasonable
\nthreat to end the lives of Igbo chiefs in his Lagos kingdom, you will see
\na pattern of unchecked, crude, hateful act-out on Igbo ethnic Nigerians
\nthey both owe gratitude for the economic wealth they enjoy. It is
\nextremely disappointing that this Oba has not yet apologized for his
\ndastardly confrontational attempt at dehumanization of an entire Igbo
\nethnicity. It is further disturbing that Governor Fashola has not weighed
\nin to show disgust for the Oba\u2019s gutter utterances. We call on President
\nGoodluck Jonathan to act immediately to protect all Igbo in Lagos from
\nthis hate depredation by Oba Akiolu. Ethnic hate mongering in Nigeria
\ndirectly exacerbates the weakening of Nigeria\u2019s Sovereignty and must be
\ntackled promptly to keep Nigeria One.<\/p>\n
The City of Lagos will remain Nigeria\u2019s Real Estate, developed mostly with
\nfederal funds, and in part by Igbo Residents and Igbo Entrepreneurs. There
\nare many Igbo families that settled in Lagos far more than a hundred
\nyears, and perhaps as old as this Oba\u2019s family. The Igbo population in
\nLagos is strong enough to cause this Oba\u2019s plunge into a sublime as we now
\nnote. The Igbo in Lagos are not cowards by any means. The Oba\u2019s attempt to
\nintimidate them into voting for his APC candidate is this Oba\u2019s
\nregrettable mistake. He will be held responsible for the life or property
\nof any Igbo if any thing should happen as he uttered, before, during and
\nafter the April 11 state elections in Lagos. The Igbo of Lagos are
\nencouraged to turn out in their largest possible numbers to vote their
\nconscience, ignoring the Oba\u2019s macho, but juvenile ranting. We hope that
\nthis Oba has not hurt his preferred gubernatorial candidate\u2019s chances of
\nwinning at the polls.<\/p>\n
World Igbo Congress (WIC) takes this opportunity to make it known to all
\nNigerians that WIC will use any instruments available to it to protect
\nIgbo life from hate activities anywhere in the world. The Igbo will no
\nlonger turn the other chick as Igbo blood is senselessly shed by Igbo
\nhaters, no matter what circumstances prevail.
\nSigned:<\/p>\n
Joe Nze Eto
\nChairman World Igbo Congress<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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