EU frowns at Oba of Lagos' kill threat

Eastern Union, EU, has frowned at the statement by the Oba of Lagos threatening the Igbo residents in Lagos should they vote against the APC governorship candidate and said the action showed clearly that most of the traditional rulers are out of tune with their gods.

Charles Anike, EU leader said such threat was least expected of a man who is supposed to be a father to all. According to him, traditional rulers and religious leaders are supposed to be neutral and not partisan and that his organization does believe that Oba’s advisers should interpret his words clearly to him.

“We urge the lgbo and indeed the Easterners to troop out en-mass to excise their franchise without fear of any molestation. The Easterners have contributed in no small measure in the development and progress of Lagos state in particular and Nigeria in general. Their contribution to the building of Lagos state has been undermined by the successive regime of APC. The Easterners have been harassed and over burdened with heavy taxation

by government”, Anike stated.

“The coming governorship election should be seen by Ndigbo in Lagos as a payback time to the recklessness and high handedness of Fashola administration against the Igbos in particular. The outgoing governor at several times closed down markets dominated by lgbo with flimsy excuses for months”.

According to Anike, the out-going governor went further to show his hatred for the Igbos when he deported some Igbos to Onitsha without any show of remorse. “At that time, we had expected Oba Akiolu to come out publicly to condemn the action of the governor but he never did. Since Oba Akiolu has now become partisan, we wonder what will happen to him if Mr. Jimi Agbaje wins”.

“Politics they say is the game of number and if that is really true, then there will be no reason why the lgbo should not use their vote to make a statement in the coming governorship election throughout the country and Lagos in particular.

He said the outgoing Lagos State governor has so neglected and frustrated Igbo people and we feel that this would be a payback moment.

“If the Igbos and Easterners in general feels more secured under Mr. Jimi Agbaje they must over look any threat and go out en-mass to use their PVC to prove their worth. We have at several time call and written to Mr. Fashola over the sufferings of our people in Lagos since his emergence as governor but all to no avail. His government has demolished Churches and our peoples' shops with impunity and without following due processes. Our people where burdened and still over burden with heavy taxation”.

He explained that politics in Nigeria has taken ethnic dimensions and there was no shying away from it. He disclosed that the northerners didn’t mince words with their voters to Gen. Buhari’s and neither did the Easterners too.

“We supported and still supporting President Jonathan and there is no regret about that. However we congratulate Gen.Buhari’s for victory. Those who don’t know should know that the Yoruba like the lgbo are scattered everywhere in Nigeria and living freely and doing their lawful business”, he added.

“They are not harassed anywhere or compel to vote against their conscience and as such lgbo and indeed the Easterners cannot be harass to vote against their conscience. We have sensitized and still sensitizing our people towards the coming election. Political campaign is supposed to be by persuasion and not by harassment and intimidation by royal fathers”.