Hitler of Lagos: Igbos, other Nigerians react

Emeka Ibemere

Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu may have given Igbos a kind of threat, Adolf Hitler, the German Field Marshall gave to Jews during the First World War, which finally saw the extermination of six million Jews residing in Germany during the war time. 

But Nigeria is not at war with itself, not even during the civil war era, has such threat been recorded.

However, a Five-star traditional ruler has decided to play gods ahead the April 11 Gubernatorial election in Lagos State with threat to perish all the Igbos with their Children, should they vote against his candidate- Akinwunmi Ambode, the All Progressive Congress flagbearer.

Last Sunday, the flaming Oba told Igbos living in Lagos to vote for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, or else they will die in the lagoon.

According to the report, a visibly angry Oba Akiolu, in a blatant threat, vowed that he was not ready to beg the Igbos, but if they repeated what they did on March 28, when they voted for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Goodluck Jonathan, and then they should be ready for the consequences.

The governorship elections are scheduled to hold on Saturday, and it is believed that Igbo residents in Lagos would vote for the PDP candidate, Jimi Agbaje, just like they did during the presidential and National Assembly elections that led to the victory of PDP candidates of Igbo origin and from Delta State in three federal constituencies in Lagos.

It would recall that the victory of the non-indigenes of Lagos has not gone down well with the Lagos chapter of the APC.

Speaking at a meeting with Igbo leaders in the state, the first class monarch, who failed to recognise the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos, said: “On Saturday, if anyone of you go against Ambode who I picked, that is your end. If it doesn’t happen within seven days, just know that I am a bastard and it is not my father who gave birth to me”, Oba cried.

“Jonathan is my son and I speak to him every day. By the grace of God, I am the owner of Lagos for the time being. This is an undivided chair. The palace belongs to the dead and those coming in the future. 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 inside this water.

“I’m not ready to beg you. Nobody knew how I picked Ambode. Jimi Agbaje is my blood relation and I told him that he cannot be governor in Lagos for now. The future belongs to God. I am not begging anybody, but what you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere, don’t do it here.

“If you do what I want, Lagos will continue to be prosperous for you. If you go against my wish, you will perish in the water.”

The monarch said anybody against Ambode did not wish the state well, adding, “I am for the progress, growth and development of Lagos. Ambode is highly cerebral, he’s a symbol and he is going to deliver the message which I, the Oba of Lagos, have said. And he will govern the state for another eight years.

“He is going on a mission and God will give him the wisdom and knowledge to fulfil that mission. Almost a year ago, I declared that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos and it will not change. “From time immemorial, the previous occupiers of this house will say what they wanted after consultations with other people. And this hasn’t changed and it will not change at this time,” he said.

In his response, one man who parades himself as the Eze-Ndigbo of Amuwo-Oriade, one Dr. Gordian Dimojiaku, promised Akiolu that the Igbos in the state would support Ambode.

“The mistake of last Saturday was caused by everybody, not only the Igbos. It is not only the Igbos that was responsible for the votes. But we have learnt our lesson. Saturday’s election is going to be a different thing and Ambode is going to win.

“Everybody knows that when you fail the first time, you cannot afford to fail again. We are going to tell our people that Ezes from the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas are here and that we have sworn with the Oba that we are going to make sure that Ambode wins next Saturday’s election,” he said.

Meanwhile, Eastern Union, a political cum social organisation in Abuja has reacted to Oba of Lagos comment disassociating themselves from the so-called Ezes in Lagos.

The President of EU, Charles Anike in Press Release made available to Newswatch Times decried to attitude of some selfish individuals who called themselves Ezes as speaking for themselves and not for the interest of Igbos in Lagos State.

Anike who was furious over the statement said Akiolu should know that Igbos cannot be cowed by mere talk and asked him to behave like a true elder statesman.

 “We read with a shock, a statement credited to Oba Akiolu of Lagos to kill all Igbos in Lagos if they fail to vote for APC candidate”, Anike writes.

“We call on all our Igbo brothers and Sisters residence in Lagos to come out en-mass to vote the PDP Governorship candidate Mr. Jimi Agbaje, in the coming governorship election on Saturday April 11 without any fear of intimidation from any quarters”, he added.

“The Igbos did it in Presidential election and should be ready to do it again. Yes, it is true that President Jonathan lost to the APC candidate in the Presidential election but its clear the lgbo made their point clear”.

According to the EU leader, the Igbo don’t mince words when they mean to give their support to anybody and they cannot regret the support given to President Jonathan or Jimi Agbaje.

Anike said the statement credited to Oba of Lagos threatening the Igbo residents in Lagos showed clearly that most of our traditional rulers are out of tune with their gods.

 Anike 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 organisation 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.

“Easterners have been harassed and over burdened with heavy taxation by Lagos State 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.” Yemi Adebowale, a Lagos resident was shock to read what was credited to Oba and said the traditional ruler erred on the path of honour. He said; “Now that Oba Akiolu has choose to play God over the people of Lagos state, he has forgotten Pharaoh, Herod, Nebuchadnezzar, etc I hope he will be ready to compete with God almighty himself who has the power to make Kings and dethrone them too. This is a big disgrace from a monarch”.

  Uko Francis reacting to Oba’s comment said, that because of what Oba’s threat that Igbos and non-indigenes should vote for Agbaje.  “And on this note, I hereby call on all Igbos, Ijaws, Ibibios, Aniomas, Igbirras, Tivs, Idomas, Binis, and all non-haters of true democracy to vote for Jimi Agbaje, so that we can truly show he is a bastard indeed”.   Speaking further, a social commentator who refused to use his name added; “the Oba has unwittingly shot himself in the foot for I foresee a protest vote against his candidate Ambode. His unguarded utterance only goes on to prove that there are more to the contest for who owns Lagos than meets the eye. Thank God the ICC chiefs are still in Nigeria and this irresponsible outburst from Emperor Akiolu will not escape their attention”.

Nwosu Agaptus stated, monarch now politicians... “Vote for Ambode or you perish”. What happens to our freedom and right to vote whom we seek. This is pure injustice and partially driven interest articulation /self aggrandizement .Wonders without end. See Pharaoh vs. Moses for precedent”.

 One Shola commenting on the issue said Nigerians in Lagos State should thank the Oba for indirectly helping Agbaje’s campaign by his outburst against Igbos and said no true son of Lagos or Yoruba land would be happy with the Oba.

“We should thank him; he has only helped Jimi Agbaje. No true son of Lagos State or Yoruba land will be happy with the paramount ruler who stoops this low”.

“Can someone call this ex- Police boss turned Oba to order? This is completely senseless. I had wanted to vote for Ambrose but I’ll dare this empty threat and vote for Agbaje. Nigeria is in serious trouble”.

Another Lagos State resident, one Franklyn Nonso said Nigeria is in a real democratic dispensation and doesn’t warrant such threats, especially when President Goodluck Jonathan has set the machinery for peace and democratic rights in motion and wondered why such an Oba should make such comment.  “You can be Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa or any other tribe for that matter. If the gubernatorial seat of Lagos State is ceremonial or part of his monarchy no problem but we are in a democratic dispensation and Nigeria is a Federal Republic”.      

    Mrs Silva Okey said she is afraid of Oba’s comment and said Nigeria is not truly one but just a finished country. “Nigeria is finished. See the way he is threatening our people and someone there will tell me Nigeria is one.  I can't believe a so called Oba can say this. I will vote Agbaje and there is nothing thus; oba can do. He can't even save himself let alone kill me. How will I die in Lagoon? Is it spiritually or he will send guys to kill me?  I'm waiting for anything to happen. If he killed one Ibo, Lagos will boil and he will be dethroned or killed in the crisis.” An unknown commentator who wishes not to use his name also quipped. “Remain self controlled, vote according to your wisdom not according to ethnic bias. The Igbo is just being used as a political tool. APC will see the Oba as he apparently desires and he will recant”.

Also reacting, a student criticised the Oba’s comment and said because of the threat, he has changed his mind and would vote for Jimi Agbaje on April 11.

 “I was actually planning to vote for Ambode because I think Lagos has stayed long enough in federal opposition. But because of this rubbish from the Oba, I will be voting for Agbaje...let’s see if the Oba has any powers to stop me”

   Ndi Favour called on all Igbos to see Oba’s comment as clarion call to vote for Agbaje. “Please, this should be a motivating factor to vote for Jimi. Let us see what this thug will do. His end will soon come”.

Jon West, Rivers State indigene wasn’t sure if the Oba made the statement credited to him or not but said no matter what happen such statement was very wrong coming from such person.

 “This is unprecedented if true. In a democracy, a highly placed citizen is publicly threatening other citizens with death if they vote their conscience and he will get away with it. How will Nigerians feel if the Obi if Onitsha threatens the Hausa and Yoruba traders who populate Onitsha market with hell and brimstone if they fail to vote for his candidate in a local election”, he added

“Nigeria has really degenerated to its lowest abyss this time and this is a sign of things to come. From the triumphalism in Northern Nigeria, where the "mock coffin" of Jonathan is paraded publicly , while he is still a sitting President , to the verbal threats to South East and South South citizens all over the place, we are headed on the road to perdition as previously predicted”.

The prognosis for the future with this kind of bellicosity is not good and somebody should come out to rubbish Oba Akiolu and his minions. Nobody can threaten national security and get away with it, especially a retired Police AIG. Tinubu and Akiolu have finished Lagos and the citizens of Lagos should vote them out on Saturday”.

“I am happy that the Igbos does not listen to any "Chiefs" and are immune to fetish threats, and will vote in Jimi Agbaje. Let the Lagoon then swallow them and all the population of Lagos, including Tinubu, Fashola and the fetish Oba, whose predecessor's daughter was married to my village man. How Nigeria has deteriorated. Akiolu's daughter can definitely not take the same path again, and we have one country? To hell with Nigeria.”

 Torino also questioned the rationale behind such comment. According to him, traditional rulers don’t take side when it comes to politics but was surprise to read such comment coming from an Oba. “I thought royal fathers are supposed to be neutral. Does the oba realize that we are not in medieval age and also this is politics where everybody is entitled to his opinion, even common sense suggests that too”, he queried. “If otherwise the constitution would have summoned only traditional rulers to hand-pick public office holders. Before I submit my thought, is this oba not a former police officer expected to be vast in the knowledge of human right”. Okwuchukwu David on his own stated that Oba Akiolu has unwittingly made himself a candidate for ICC just like Patience Jonathan.  “Igbos in Lagos State, please ignore him and the so called Eze Ndi Igbo in Lagos. Politics is a free choice game, vote Jimi Agbaje or Ambode or any other candidate of your choice. Oba Akiolu cannot force even his wives, children or extended family to vote for Ambode”.