Former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu

Former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, has given the Lagos State Government a seven-day ultimatum to apologise to the 67 persons of Igbo ethnic nationality allegedly deported from Lagos to Onitsha in Anambra State or he would head to court to defend their interest.

Kalu said there was no law in the country, which empowers a state or governor to deport any Nigerian to any part of the country.

In a statement made available to THISDAY Monday, Kalu said there was right to freedom of movement for every Nigerian as enshrined in Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

While describing the action of the state government was lawless and vexatious, the former governor equally condemned it in strong terms, saying it threatens the corporate existence of the country.

Besides, the former governor argued that it was an open secret that the Igbo contribute about 55 per cent to the Lagos economy.

“It is appalling to learn that the deported Igbo were even detained in Ikorodu for about six months before their illegal deportation.

“They were taken to Onitsha in four buses, escorted by anti-riot policemen," he said.

One of them, Osondu Mbuto, a trader from Ohaozara in Ebonyi State, was on his way to his shop on December 18, 2012 when he was arrested by officials ofthe state’s Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI)and detained for no reason until he was deported in his father's land.

“The reaction of the state government that the Igbo were deported to reunite them with their families was the worst insult to any race.

“Governor Fashola's Special Adviser on Youths and Social Development, Dr. Enitan Dolapo Badru, said: ‘The end result is to reunite them back with their families.’

“What an affront against the collective will of Ndigbo or any other race in Nigeria to live and do business in any part of the country?

“The action of the state government is not only wicked but a clear breach of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

“To worsen the matter, most of those deported are not even indigenes of Anambra State. Is Anambra State now a dumping ground for any act of illegality? Is Lagos State Government above the law of the country? If not, can it operate another set of laws without recourse to constitution amendment? Is it not a travesty of justice that officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) were even used for this illegal act against the Nigerian state? Was the supervising officer, who allowed the deployment of the policemen, not told that they were going to be used for the deportation of Nigerians they were paid by tax payers' money to protect in their fathers' land?

“The action is a gross infraction to the rights of the deportees to dwell in any part of Nigeria without discrimination. With this wicked, crude and primitive deportation, I just wonder why a component unit of Nigeria, under the authority and supremacy of a constitution would choose to be lawless in such an unconstitutional conduct. Not even underthe military would such an action have happened.

“Even if a criminal offence was committed, the place to take them to is the court, not for them to be deported. The action of the Lagos State Government is lawless as it is vexatious and I condemn it in strong terms because it threatens the existence of our country. All patriotic Nigerians should say no to this xenophobic action of Lagos State Government because it usurps the powers of the federal government and disregards our constitution.

“I demand a public apology from the governor within seven days to all those illegally deported and a repeat of such anact must be stopped or I will head to court to defend the interest of the Ndigbo in Lagos. Enough is enough.”

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/kalu-threatens-to-sue-fashola-over-forced-relocation-of-igbos/154823/

the Yorubas and hausa guys doing legitimate businesses and those begging along the streets should get ready to leave Rivers State for us...afterall they aint contributing anytin to help rivers state grow financially. Its deportation time..

Nice one Kalu, nice one!

Surely we haven't heard the last of this malicious and wicked act of Lagos State, which endangered the lives of the 67 hapless citizens of Nigeria, when they were dumped by the road side in the dead of the night.

We haven't heard the last of it.

Such never makes it to FRONTPAGE, I know them.

I love kalu. I don't even no what to say again.

He should stop threatening and act.

Though i usually admire his policies & actions,I personally think Gov. Fashola didn't act Patriotically on this.

The case is very simple.Handpick those who sell green and yellow medicine in Onitsha and Aba send them back to Ijebu Ode.

.....Empty ultimatum # 25 of 2013 issued out of SE.

Clifford orji can go kiss transformer.Noise maker,empty threat. What has he done about ndigo killed on a daily basis in the North?Na only mouth we see say them get, them get mouth like lion come get action like rabbit.

Kalu, stop wasting your time with threats. the deportees are already on their way back to Lagos.

O ga ooo.

#puffing my Expensive Cuban Cigar in my Havana twin-duplex#

Wasting of precious time.

frederal: Such never makes it to FRONTPAGE, I know them.

Really?? Then this must be at the backpage

I see no reason why Fashola shud deport sm set of ppl bacj to their place wit the so claim "re-unite" wit their families. Were they declared missing in the 1st place? Na wa ooo!

obadiah777: he need to sue himself for being a belligerent kleptocrat

Abi. The same criminal who raped his state financially and ethically is now making noise.
Mr. Kalu, how many people of Abia did you turn to destitutes, gala hawkers, baby making factories dealers, armed robbers and immigrants in foreign lands? Im happy you are dealing with a SAN, someone whose actions are always within the confines of the law. You can sue the entire Yoruba race for all I care. And Im sincerely DARE you guys should start deporting Yorubas. I SINCERELY pray you do... Please hurry and lets see what this fall-out will lead to.
Haba, the state says it doesnt want excesses of beggars, and prowlers without jobs or identity who do nothing but harm its citizens...na wetin

We are counting the days......let's test the word COWARD.

He is only trying 2 gain his way back into d hearts of d Ibos.I schooled in d east,most of the tinz d Ibos clamor 4 in Lag,u dare not try it in d east,if ur dad is not from dat state,very soon they will clamor 4 Ibo governor in Lagos.Imagine a yoruba man heading a market in Onitsha,Lagos is a home 4 all,but dat dosent mean people shud take d Yorubas 4 granted,they need 2 caution thierselves.same people that were questioning d visit of some northern govs to Ph,r dsame people crying dat they won't leave Lagos,that we r 1 Nigeria,lol.

Okay o. We are watching. It's good for the lawyers.

2014 the year to correct the error made by that stupid and useless people called britain. By 2014 we be 100 yrs

1. BY 2014, NIGERIA SHOULD NO LONGER LEGALLY EXIST

2. NIGERIA WILL BE BACK TO PRE-1914 STATUS OF TWO STATES OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA AND NORTHERN NIGERIA BOTH LEGALLY AND TECHNICALLY, ALTHOUGH THE RULING ELITES MAY IGNORE THIS REALITY EXCEPT THERE IS REVOLUTION FROM THE PEOPLE.

3. PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN AND NORTHER NIGERIA MUST COME TOGETHER TO ENTER A NEW AGREEMENT UNDER THEIR OWN TERMS.

unity and cooperation brings development. we have come to a level when tribal descrimination should be a thing of the past

Considering the opportunity given to an igbo man to serve under Fashola, I wonder what could have prompted him to do this to same tribe.

Seriously i dont believe this, deport ke! there is more to this than what they're letting out.
Either way, i dey laugh
Fashola if this na true,you fall my hand.
Besides what is their offence

Iykopee: the Yorubas and hausa guys doing legitimate businesses and those begging along the streets should get ready to leave Rivers State for us...afterall they aint contributing anytin to help rivers state grow financially. Its deportation time..

i believe you mean anambra state.

Abeg go siddon make we hear word jare.

Kalu go and chop idge. When did you become inewi's national leader. Get out man tell your governors to start performing jare and keep your mouth shut.

Some Nigerians can speak from both sides of their mouths.

On one hand, they want Nigeria to break up, on the other hand, they run away from acts that can quicken the break-up.

On one hand, they say Yorubas are cowards, on the other hand, when Yoruba take bold and uncommon actions like Fasola has done, they start whining.

If you're really serious about the disintegration of Nigeria and you're not cowards, why not respond in kind?

On one hand, they refuse to support the call for a special status for Lagos (as recommended by the Murtala administration when Abuja was created), on the other hand, they expect Lagos to cater for destitutes and unemployed people from its meagre allocation and IGR. Right now, Lagos is bursting at the seams.

On one hand, they jubilate when Fasola sends back Yorubas to Osogbo or Ibadan, or Hausas to the North, but wail when he does the same to them.

Should all roads lead to Lagos when it comes to freebies?

On one hand, they lampoon Fasola for not being a good administrator of a mega and unsupported city of Lagos, but they shed tears when Fasola tries to shed weight of redundant people from the state.

Honestly, what Fasola is doing is the best to ignite debates on the structure of this country. If you're bold, address the fundamentals and don't whine.

How much of VAT and Port revenues come to Lagos? How much goes to Kano? How much goes to Ebonyi or Ekiti?

Orji Kalu should please hasten the court action. This may well be the beginning of true fiscal federalism or the end of the faulty contraption by Lugard and his mistress.