Many Nigerians have expressed outrage over the threat by
Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, against Igbo if they fail to vote
for the Lagos State All Progressives Congress
governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, in
Saturday’s election.
The monarch reportedly told Igbo leaders in Lagos on
Saturday that he would “make life unbearable” for the Igbos
in Lagos if they frustrate efforts to ensure that Am¬bode
emerges as the next governor of the state.
Oba Akiolu was quoted as saying, “On Saturday, if anyone
of you goes against Ambode, whom I picked, that is your
end. If it does not happen within seven days, just know that
I am a bastard and it is not my father who gave birth to me.
“By the grace of God, I am the owner of Lagos for the time
being. On Saturday, if anyone of you, I swear in the name
of God, goes against my wish that Ambode will be the next
governor of Lagos State, the person is going to die in¬side
this water.”
Some Nigerians took to Twitter to comment on the
controversial 'anti-igbo' comments.
Read some below,,,
Apart from the Twitter users, many others who called out
the monarch are the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria
and the youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural
organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
While the CCFN asked Oba Akiolu to revert his “curse” on
the Igbos, the Ohanaeze youths gave the monarch 48 hours
to withdraw his threat and apologise for his outburst
against the Igbos.
CCFN, an organ of the Catholic Bishops Conference of
Nigeria, in a statement by its Executive Secretary, Rev. Fr.
Evaristus Bassey, on Monday in Abuja said Akiolu was
“missing the point that Nigeria is a Republic and a
democracy and not a monarchy.”
He said, “We humbly call on the Oba himself to withdraw
his curse and rather appeal to the people, for indeed, such a
threat may amount to playing God and God, who is a
merciful father, will not allow his children to die so
senselessly just because they are fulfilling the dictates of
their conscience.”
According to him, the fact that APC is the government at the
centre is a strong factor to employ and appeal to people to
vote for its candidate “rather than invoking ancestral
powers for destruction.”
Bassey added, “Why is it that in Africa we usually invoke
our powers for destruction and not for building-up? Why
single out a particular ethnic group for this curse? Does it
mean a Yoruba or Hausa person, living in Lagos. who votes
for Jimi Agbaje will go scot-free, while any Igbo, who votes
for Agbaje, will drown in the Lagoon?
“Does it mean that people should vote out of fear and not
their consciences? Would such an election be free and fair,
where people have to vote out of intimidation?
Does not the threat of the Oba Akiolu amount to voter
intimidation?”
The Ohanaeze youth wing said it considered the comments
credited to the monarch as “a despicable insult on the Igbo
nation home and abroad, least expected of a royal father in
the rank of Oba of Lagos.”
In a statement in Umuahia on Monday, the National
President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu
Isiguzoro, said, “Igbo youths will not take this insult lightly,
and unless he apologises within 48 hours, he should know
he is courting our wrath.
“Nobody, no matter what he thinks he is, has the right to
command Ndigbo anywhere on who to vote for in a
democratic setting.”
He said the “unprintable comments”, credited to the Oba,
had only revealed his innate hatred against “Ndigbo, whom
God has destined to prosper in any part of the world even in
hostile environments.”
He, called on security agencies to immediately invite the
monarch for questioning over his remarks “which portend
grave security implications.”
The monrach has however released a statement adressing
the issue.
Read statement below...
My attention has been drawn to a publication in a
national newspaper where HRM Oba Riliwanu Akinolu
was alleged to have threatened Igbos in Lagos to make
them vote for Ambode.
Last Sunday, all honorary Eze Ndigbos in Lagos paid a
courtesy call to HRM Oba Akinolu. At the meeting the
visitors praised the Oba for his fatherly support for
and cooperation with Igbos in. Lagos. They assured
him of their continued good neighborliness with other
tribes in Lagos and support everything that’ll further
strengthen that harmony.
Oba Akiolu on his part acknowledged the enviable
performance of Governor Fashola and his contribution
to the growth of investments in Lagos. He gave the
assurance that he is not disturbed or angry with South-
East and South- South votes for President Jonathan as
perceived by the Eze Ndigbos. The Oba thereafter
called on the Igbos chiefs to show appreciation to
Lagos State by supporting his candidate Mr. Ambode
for continuity of excellence as they had earlier
promised. He assured them of his continued support
and assistance where needed and the meeting ended
with the traditional breaking of kolas, alligator pepper,
and bitter kola and pouring of liberation on the ground.
It was within this context that that the tradition of
Lagos with regard to the lagoon came up. It was said
that according to tradition, whoever works against the
throne and the interest and peaceful co-existence of
Lagos would end up in the lagoon. Oba Akiolu stated
further that the Igbo people have not betrayed the
throne. Lagos has also not betrayed the Igbo people.
Lagos has done so much to make the Igbos
comfortable and to prosper. For this, we expect
reciprocal respect and understanding.
The Oba of Lagos prays that the Lagoon and the throne
will continue to bless and protect all those who reside
and visit Lagos.
Oba Akiolu is the father of all irrespective of tribe,
religion or political persuasion. In Lagos, we have an
old traditional proverb that relates to the Lagoon. The
Lagoon is unique to Lagos. The proverb stresses the
need for unity and understanding when you do
business in an environment and in this case when you
live and do business in Lagos. Oba Akiolu prays for
peace for the land of Lagos and prosperity for all its
inhabitants.
Signed: Chief Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, Opeluwa of
Lagos April 6, 2015 CLICK HERE TO READ FULL AND TOUCHING NIGERIAN CELEBRITIES BIOGRAPHY AND SCANDALS
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