From Maurice Okafor,Enugu.
The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide,which is the apex body of all Igbo socio cultural organisations has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Lagos state governor,Babajide Sanwo Olu, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,security agencies and all lovers of democracy etc, as an issue of urgent concern to halt incessant attacks on Igbos living and doing business in Lagos state.
The Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide,Ambassador Okey Emuchay,made the passionate appeal in a press statement released in Enugu yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the organisation,Dr Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia.
The Leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo said it was duly informed by the Lagos chapter of the organisation that the recent fire disaster at Akere spare parts market in Lagos,at which Igbo traders lost goods worth billions of naira was a deliberate act to punish them for exercising their franchise as pleased their conscience during the presidential election.
The press statement read in parts,”The report also revealed that a 65 year old security man was shot dead before the inferno.The spare parts market is an Igbo dominated market.
“This report is in consonance with the various threats issued by both the lowly and barbaric hoodlums before the general elections that a vote against the APC will incur wrath.
“It is very regrettable that while the several eminent conscientious amongst the Yoruba are lending noble hands for a better Nigeria some miscreants and hoodlums are busy destroying the invaluable cordial relationship between the Igbo and the Yoruba”.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo stressed that February 25 Presidential election was devoid of ethnicity, since many Igbos and other Nigerians equally voted for Chief Bola Tinubu.
“It is a common knowledge that the voting on February 25, 2023 was very blind to ethnicity. What the oppressed and the dispossessed masses expressed was a desire to create a new Nigeria through Mr. Peter Obi. It goes without saying that it requires an exceptional audacious and capacious un-Nigerian Nigerian to pull Nigeria out of the woods. Anyone who has watched Peter Obi closely since 40 years ago will discern that Obi is specially sent from heaven to redeem Nigeria from its down-ward spiral.
“But, by the way, the presidential candidate of the APC in the last election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu also enjoyed a good Igbo supporters in Lagos. Why all these these?,Ohanaeze querried.
Ohanaeze explained that prior to the election various ethnic cultural groups such as the Afenifere, an umbrella socio cultural organisation for the Yoruba; the PANDEF, the Middle Belt, Arewa groups, etc were in the forefront of the Obi-Datti movement and thousands of Yoruba youths were deeply committed to the cause,therefore the barbarick attacks is very uncalled for.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo lamented that before the election,precisely on January 30,the local chief of Igbara community,Jakande, in Eti-Osa local government area of Lagos State made an incendiary speech wherein he stated that “only residents who have their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and are ready to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be allowed to do business with us in this community”.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo also beckoned on the intervention of the international community to halt the brutal attacks and destruction of properties of Igbos residing in Lagos state.
” We also call for the interference of the International community at this point because the ignored injustice somewhere will ultimately have reverberations elsewhere and everywhere”.
