The Lagos ‘Deportation’ Saga And Uke 30 In Anambra State By Joe Igbokwe

Few months back some mentally challenged indigenes of Anambra were relocated from Lagos to Anambra after months of rehabilitation in Lagos Rehab Centers. The moment the press got wind of it hell was let loose. First Governor Peter Obi wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan that Governor Fashola has deported Ndigbo from Lagos. Governor Obi in the letter did not tell the president that there were correspondences between Lagos State government and Anambra state government on April 9 and April 29 2013 with no response from the government of Anambra state. Governor Obi did not stop there. He ran to Lagos where he made all his money, went straight to Ndigbo Lagos, Ohaneze Lagos and Aka Ikenga and told them that governor Fashola is planning to send Ndigbo packing in Lagos. He told them that Fashola is just trying to test the political waters by sending the mentally challenged people away and that the next port of call is to send every successful Igbo man out of Lagos. I was not at the meeting but I was told that our people were alarmed and furious. For standing beside Fashola because I know a lot is at stake in Lagos, I was called names. I was asked not to venture to come back to Igboland. Aka Ikenga, an intellectual organization Governor Fashola has soft spot for went to town to address a Press Conference, berating the Governor even before going to hear the Governor out.

Ohaneze, Ndigbo Lagos and every other Igbo went to town. The roof was brought down, a vast preponderance of Igbo at home and in diaspora went for governor Fashola’s head. It was war from all corners, in websites, in the social media, pages of newspapers, Radio, TV, in the markets, town meetings, in offices etc, Gov Fashola became the number one enemy of Ndigbo. Governor Fashola was almost physically taken to the slaughter house to be killed. The lynch mob increased by the day and almost put a knife on things that held Yoruba and Igbo together since the 50s. In the midst of all this, I, Ceedon Adinuba and a few others felt the need to stand by governor Fashola, knowing fully well that the lynch mob is constantly jeopardizing Igbo interest in Lagos. Time and space will not permit to discuss Igbo huge interest in Lagos, the magnanimity and friendly deposition of the Yoruba, the huge business empire of our people and the beauty of Lagos. It is a book project for another day.

Our people did not remember that the same Governor Peter Obi who came to Lagos to incite Ndigbo deported citizens to Akwa-Ibom and Ebonyi States in 2011. They did not remember that governor Orji of Abia State sacked 3000 indigenes of Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states from Abia, sending some of them to untimely deaths. It did not matter to Ndigbo, but Governor Fashola must be crushed for bringing destitute to their home state to re-unite with their people. These ethnic interlopers and warriors led by governor Obi did not stop there. Few weeks back some Charge and Bail lawyers in Onitsha said they have instituted a one billion Naira suite against Governor Fashola for deporting Ndigbo from Lagos. The rest is now history but take notice that all these shenanigans were targeted on Senator Chris Ngige, the APC Governorship aspirant for November 16 Guber Elections in the State.

On Saturday 2nd November 2013 a tragedy occurred in Uke, Anambra State when Governor Peter Obi, APGA Governorship candidate Willie Obiano, APGA National Chairman Chief Victor Umeh and others took their political campaigns to a night vigil at Adoration ground in Uke, Anambra state where Rev. Father Emmanuel Obimma (Ebube Muonso) holds forte. About 30 people died as a result of a stampede. The world is yet to know the cause after five days. For the avoidance of doubt people go to night vigil to seek the face of God to solve their life threatening problems – barrenness, HIV/AIDS, cancer, poverty, family problems, unemployment, life partners, safe child delivery, long life, intervention for wives, husbands, children etc.

Night vigil is a place of worship attended by people who seek quiet moments with their Creator, denying themselves night sleep and other comforts. It is not a place for political jamboree. But the desperation of Governor Obi and APGA to get Anambra state by all means led them to Uke and 30 people died thereafter. As I speak their bodies are in the mortuary and the campaigns have been going on as usual as if nothing happened. The heavily compromised Catholic Archbishop Val Okeke has said that there was nothing political about Obi’s presence at the celebration in Uke on that fateful night. The corrupt Archbishop is saying that the tragedy would have happened even if governor Obi and others had not gone there with full APGA campaign regalia. This is unbelievable, unthinkable, and unimaginable, a story told by somebody who cannot get it, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.

Now, I have been waiting like a patient bird for the same lynch mob that took on Fashola to stand up against Governor Obi for causing the deaths of 30 people at a sacred ground in Ukeh, Anambra State. I expect that the charge and bail lawyers in Onitsha will file a two billion naira suit against Gov Obi for causing the death of 30 people in an idiotic and brainless political jamboree. In Uke , I expect Inter-society, Aka-Ikenga, Ohaneze, CLO, MASSOB, Ndigbo Lagos and others who wanted Governor Fashola’s head at all cost to issue a statement condemning the Uke invasion and deaths. I expect the mob bloggers in the internet who wanted Fashola’s head to rise to the occasion. Yes, the TV stations that are keeping quiet now should throw open their doors and let us discuss the tragic incident. Has Governor Peter Obi written to President Jonathan to report himself for taking political campaigns to Adoration ground in Uke and consequently caused the death of 30 poor Nigerians?

Gov Obi, Rev Father Emmanuel Obimma are still playing hide and seek game on what caused this incident. How much did Governor Obi pay Rev. Obimma to mobilize 100,000 men and women for APGA in Uke in a night vigil? If it was truly a night vigil for God, this incident would never have happened. APGA and Governor Obi polluted the sacred ground and hence the tragedy. Our so-called men of God have turned the Church of God into den of robbers and I know that God will fight for Himself in the fullness of time. Let the truth be told about Uke 30!

eGuerrilla:

[url=http://saharareporters.com/article/lagos-%E2%80%98deportation%E2%80%99-saga-and-uke-30-anambra-state-joe-igbokwe/]Source[/url]

chukwudi44:

Should Nigige keep hiring writers to defame a very popular catholic priest like this writer has just done He will be diminishing his chances @ the polls.This people are not helping his campaign.This is just an advice.

Peter Obi did not cause the stampede in any way ,people should stop playing politics with this issue

chukwudi44:

Should Nigige keep hiring writers to defame a very popular catholic priest like this writer has just done He will be diminishing his chances @ the polls.This people are not helping his campaign.This is just an advice.

Peter Obi did not cause the stampede in any way , people should stop playing politics with this issue

Zona.com:
Too bad! The rate at which our politicians seize every little opportunity to score cheap points or paint their opponents bad is just too annoying. If actually joe igbokwe wrote this, then someone needs to call him to order. To allege that obi probably bribed the Rev fr, and to say that archbishop val okeke is compromised is no longer politics. Igbokwe needs to be carefull.

superstar1:

oga where were u when Adaobi was politicizing the reunion of harmful destitutes with their family members., where were you, when the idiot was running to Aso Rock thinking GEJ is as daft as him to a level that he will dare declare state of emergency in Lagos or SW.

plzzzzzzzzzz

Zona.com:

When i say politicians i mean most if not all of them, obi included too. I'm no obi supporter, but i think the APC guys need to be carefull at this juncture, to suggest that obi (with the permision of the priest) caused the stampede at the prayer ground leading to death of many people is just a dangerous propaganda.

Zona.com:

When i say politicians i mean most if not all of them, obi included too. I'm no obi supporter, but i think the APC guys need to be carefull at this juncture, to suggest that obi (with the permision of the priest) caused the stampede at the prayer ground leading to death of many people is just a dangerous propaganda.

chi 3280: Its unfortunate that the church had to be dragged into this mess. If they hadn't invited Obi and his stooge to the vigil through Obi's sister who is a reverend,this wouldn't have happened. The Catholic Church which am a staunch member is a disappointment.

superstar1: God Bless Joe Igbokwe. Infact we will soon give him yoruba indigeneship.

he is a complete omoluabi

Ojiofor:

why not elect him governor of lagos state after fashola?haven't he tried enough.