Igbo leaders speak out, say not at war with Yoruba

Igbo leaders in Lagos have reacted to the trending narrative about Igbo being behind the attacks on public and private properties in the state, stating that they are not at war with the Yoruba whom they said are their landlords. The president of the pan Igbo socio-cultural group, the Ohaneze Indigbo, Lagos State Chapter, Chief […]

Igbo leaders in Lagos have reacted to the trending narrative about Igbo being behind the attacks on public and private properties in the state, stating that they are not at war with the Yoruba whom they said are their landlords.

The president of the pan Igbo socio-cultural group, the Ohaneze Indigbo, Lagos State Chapter, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, described the statement credited to the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, as a political gimmick targeted at causing tribal war between the Indigbo and the Yorubas.

Aguene said though the statement had been refuted by Nnamdi Kanu, he wondered what those allegedly behind the statement stand to achieve.

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He also wondered how anyone or group of persons could conceive such an expensive joke at a time the nation was going through difficult time.

“I charge security agencies to fish out those behind it so as to use them as an example for others who may want to create confusion or tribal war

“I assure my Yoruba brothers to disregard the statement. You are our landlords and we have enjoyed living among you,” he said.

He urged the people of the state to ignore the narrative making the rounds that Igbo people are responsible for the recent destruction of properties in the state.

Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the Special Adviser on Drainage to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and onetime spokesperson of the APC in the state, distanced his kinsmen totally from the arsons.

In a statement he made available to our correspondent, he said, “the Igbo I know do not have the character to destroy but to build and that is why we always say in Igbo proverb: Ebe Onye bi ka ona awachi, meaning where you live is where you build your home. Check your streets, check all the markets in Lagos, check Estate developers, check everywhere in the metropolis and see and feel the presence of Igbo. They build anywhere they go and they do not destroy.”

Igbokwe added that Kanu does not speak for the Igbo nation and his opinion does not represent the view of Igbo intelligentsia and businessmen.

He added, “Igbo in Lagos do not possess the character and the courage to invade His Royal Majesty Oba Akiolu’s Palace in Lagos Island, TVC, LTV, Channels TV, Oriental Hotel, GTB, BRT, the Nation, etc.”

The Igbo leader however decried what he called “the political hatred” for the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu especially by the opposition in the South-West.

He stated that while some politicians are busy burning bridges, Asiwaju has built bridges all over the country.

A former Director with the State Security Service (SSS), Dennis Amachree, said Nigerians should dismiss the statement with the wave of the hand, saying that it is indeed the handiwork of mischief makers.

“Nnamdi Kanu has denied making such statement. So, if he did not, then there is no issue. But if he did then it will be viewed as trying to incite both tribes.

“But I don’t think he did because the Igbos are many in Lagos and have many properties and investments in the state and he knows that the implication of the statement is enormous,” he said.