The Lagos state chapter of Ohanaeze has condemned in its entirety the unprovoked attacks, intimidation and suppression on Igbos resident in Lagos state on March 18 governorship/state houses of Assembly elections by some youths believed to be working for some politicians in the state.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, President of Ohanaeze, Chief Sunday Ossai called on the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other detribalized Yoruba leaders to call their youths to order to ensure the situation does not snowball into very serious crisis.
He described it as shameful that over 50 years after the civil war, there are still reprisals against the Igbos and warned the perpetrators and their sponsors to desist from such dastardly act to avoid plunging the state into an unnecessary and avoidable crisis.
“We are calling on various Yoruba Leaders to call their children to order because these can escalate and if Ndigbo are provoked to the elastic limit, they may decide to retaliate by resorting to self-help and Lagos may be destroyed,” he cautioned.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo wondered why Ndigbo are always made easy targets of attacks in Nigeria despite their peaceful disposition and enormous contributions in the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR in the states they live and do their businesses.
He however appealed to Ndigbo to remain calm, peaceful, exercise restraint, maintain law and order and report any attack to the appropriate security agencies while assuring that efforts are being made to reach the governor for action. He sympathized with the victims and prayed for their quick recovery from their injuries while pleading with the government to compensate the families of those who lost their lives, settle the medical bills of the injured and rehabilitate those who were forcefully sent to the labour market.
The Ohanaeze President maintained that the governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he is a good friend of Ndigbo and expressed confidence that he would not abandon them this time.
He recalled that in the build-up to the elections, Ndigbo through Ohanaeze, Ndieze, G50 and their various platforms endorsed Governor Sanwo-Olu’s second term and tried their best to deliver his victory.
In his contribution, His highness, Eze Remi Anyamele, Eze Ndigbo of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA said after the presidential election, it was suspected that there may be untoward development in the subsequent election, that the group addressed a press conference where it highlighted its apprehension and called on the state government who is the chief security officer to put measures in place to avert such attacks.
He regretted that nothing concrete was done.
Other speakers appealed for calm while urging the state governor to ensure the safety of Ndigbo and their properties in the state.
Also speaking, Eze Nicholas Njoku, Eze Ndigbo of Ejigbo, Lagos said, “Igbo youths from different local governments in Lagos have decided to stand up to prepare for what is happening now but we the Ezes calmed them down from retaliating, there is an extent to which you control children, they will do things at your back.
“While the government should stand up, the Obas, the Baales all Yoruba leaders should stand up and talk to their youths as we had talked to our youths because our youths might act at our back, before we know it, things will go out of hand. Let’s us continue to leave in peace.”