LEADERSHIP OF OHANAEZE NDIGBO VISITS LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR TO DISPEL RUMOUR ABOUT ATTACK ON THE STATE BY IGBO|IPOB MEMBERS .

+ Njoku MacDonald Obinna

Ikeja , Lagos State .

Following a heated news on the cyberspace about a purported or possible attack on soft targets in Lagos State in an unfounded press release made by the Lagos State Commissioner for Police , Hakeem Odumosu , after a town hall Security meeting wherein the police corps dangerously alleged that the planned attack is masterminded by IPOB members or Igbos; an unverifiable and hurriedly made press release which had ever since received wider criticisms across the country.

Gauging the mood of the nation and mixed reactions emanting from such press release , a rather proactive and responsive leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Prof. Amb. Geroge Obiozor embarked on what many analysts called 'excellent diplomatic shuttle ' as the Igbo leaders paid a courtesy call to Lagos State governor, Mr. Sanwo -Olu, at the Marina House , to dispel such weighty and divisive allegations.

The highly revered Pan -Igbo socio- cultural group, while advising the governor to ignore such unfounded claims by war mongers about an attack on Lagos State by members of the IPOB or Igbos which they see as a ploy to distract him from providing good governance and delivering the expected dividends of democracy for all residents in a multi-lingusitic, multi -tribal and multi-ethnic mega city like Lagos State, however , reaffirmed in unionism that; `` Ndigbo are agents of development and not destruction .``

The timely visit came after a select Yoruba groups in separate statements signed by their leaders condemned Mr. Hakeem Odumosu's remarks which they said was targeted at using his claims to pitch Igbos against Yorubas in Lagos State .

The statement was signed by leaders of Oodua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC), Femi Ajibola; Agbekoya, Kunle Oshodi; Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC (Reformed), Taofik Adeyemi; Oodua Liberation Movement (OLM), Diran Obalola; Yoruba World Congress, (YWC-Lagos State Chapter), Femi Agbana.

Others are Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC-Reformed), Rasaq Arogundade; Oodua Women Coalition (OWC), Eunice Okunola; Network for Yoruba Alliance, (NENA), Goke Otunla, and Apapo Oodua Koya (AOKOYA), Ahmed Korede.

They groups urged the Yoruba people to ignore the attempts to cause ethnic conflict between Igbos and Yorubas at this time that both ethnic groups need each other.

The police should avoid ethnic profiling. It is dangerous. The Pan Yoruba groups assure of their respective collective desire to sustain peaceful coexistence between Igbo and Yoruba and avoid any slide into ethnic conflict, an ill wind that blows no one any good. To this end, we shall set up a Committee to work out a platform to sustain ethnic harmony in Lagos.

While frowning at the hurriedly made press release, the groups challenged Hakeem Odumosu to rather go after the armed bandits and Fulani herders that have been killing their people , kidnapping them for ransom and rapping their women and daughters .

In one of the press statements made by the Publicity Secretary of the group Elias Ozikpu, and obtained by 4thestatereporters.com , the group submitted thus :

`` We have observed very closely the utter reluctance and cowardly attitude with which Hakeem Odumosu approaches real crime issues in Lagos State and how he readily jumps to his feet to respond to his masters’ calls to quell citizens who are exercising legitimate rights that are enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.``

However, stressing that Ndigbo cannot indulge in any act that would dangerously affect the harmonious peaceful co-existence and cordial relationship between them and their Yoruba counterparts , especially in Lagos State, Prof. George Obiozor described Lagos State as a second home of several people in the South East while exonerating the Igbo people from such wicked alleged planned attack as Ndigbo are known as agents of development and not destruction .

The group in commending Mr. Sanwo -Olu for exhibiting exemplary leadership at the peak of COVID -19 pandemic that ravaged Nigeria and held people hostage , especially in Lagos State , Prof. Obiozor reiterated Ohanaeze Ndigbo total support for Lagos State Government and the security agencies' patriotic efforts to keep everyone safe in the state and throughout the country.

Responding to the group's solidarity nay courtesy visit, the governor said he had no doubt that Ndigbo were great people , and his Administration would continue to foster harmonious relationships and unity to all the different tribes and ethnic nationalities in the state.

A select Igbo leaders present during the courtsey visit included but not limited to; Dr. Pascal Dozie , Chief Joe Igbokwe , Special Adviser to Lagos State governor on Drainages and Water Resources.



© 4thestatereporters

Mtcheeww

Welcome idea.

Southern Nigeria must have a united front.

These Fools ain't welcome in YorubaLord

Judging from history with Azikwe attempt to rule a people that are trillion times superior to his, to their obsession with Tinubu, hate for Fashola insulting him as minister of darkness etc ungrateful bastards/clowns should not be given any significance in Lagos.

This is the APC faction

These unity beggars won't let us hear word

Why dem dey fear us like this? IPoB denied this, we kept quiet..Ohanaeze denied, we didn't respond. Now they want to come with their smelly caps to our government house? Is it to steal the governor's seal as they stole the oba's staff some time ago?

Kudos, to the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo