The youth wing of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has issued a 48- hour ultimatum to the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, to "retract and unconditionally apologise to Ndigbos" over his alleged threat to Igbos living in Lagos on their choice of candidate in the coming governorship election.
Ohanaeze said it considered the comments credited to the monarch as "an insult on the Igbo nation, both home and abroad and least expected of a traditional ruler of his status".
The monarch had reportedly threatened to "make life unbearable for Igbos in Lagos if they sabotage efforts being made to ensure that the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, Mr. Akinwunmi Am¬bode, emerges as governor of the state."
The oba also reportedly said the Igbos would drown in the Lagos lagoon if they vote for another candidate other than that of APC.
Akiolu, who sum¬moned all the Eze-Ndigbo in the state to his palace, was quoted as saying: "On Saturday, if anyone of you goes against Ambode, who 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 for Ambode to be the next governor of Lagos State, the person is going to die in¬side this water”.
“For the Igbo and others in Lagos, they should go where the Oba of Lagos heads to. When they were coming to the state, they did not come with all their houses. But now, they have property in the state, so they must do my bidding. And that is the bidding of the ances¬tors of Lagos and God. I am not ready to beg you. Nobody knew how I picked Ambode. Jimi is my blood relation and I told him that he cannot be governor in Lagos for now. I am not beg¬ging anybody, but what you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere you cannot do it here,” he said.
In a press statement issued in Umuahia, 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 said the unprintable comments credited to the Oba have only revealed his “innate hatred against Ndigbo whom God has destined to prosper in any part of the world even in hostile environments."
Source: Daily Trust
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