Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro, has criticized the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, over the recent anti-Igbo comments attributed to him.
Obanikoro also castigated the Oba for saying that he owns Lagos and also for claiming that he handpicked the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akinwunmi Ambode.
The minister, a former governorship aspirant himself, made the comments via statement released on Wednesday, April 8, 2015.
“These people have not only become arrogant with power, they are gradually becoming despots. If an individual lays claim to not only handpicking a governorship candidate but alluded to also owning Lagos as it were, the Igbos should know what such a statement portends for them as a people sinisterly regarded as strangers.
“This was the same manner some Igbos were packed like spare parts and dumped somewhere in Anambra State about a year ago by the APC government regardless of where each person came from.”
“They constantly shutdown their stalls at the slightest provocation in the state; they levy heavy taxes on them and subject them to all manners of molestation because they think they own Lagos.”
“And now, they are threatening them with death and attempting to undermine their right to choice. All these intimidations and harassments will fail.”
“But only the Igbos and well-meaning Lagosians (indigenes and non-indigenes) can put an end to this undeserved and ugly treatment from a government in their own country when they are not second class citizens.”
“An opportunity therefore avails itself this Saturday at the governorship poll. By simply voting right, the Igbos can bid the APC nightmare a final goodbye and a new lease of life will be theirs.”
“I appeal to them to see this as a serious challenge to their existence and survival and be ready to fight for what the constitution guarantees them-their right to choice.”
“No one, no matter how highly placed, can deprive them of this right but themselves. It is apparent that CHANGE is due and imminent in the state and the Igbos can choose to be part of history this Saturday.”
The Oba of Lagos, on Sunday, April 5, told a gathering of Igbo leaders that any member of the tribe who votes against Ambode would die in the Lagoon.
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