Ndi Eze in council in Lagos on March 8th, 2023 call for Peace, following the constant and tag and targeted attacks on the Igbo communities in Lagos.
Ndi Eze in diaspora certainly are the fathers of all Igbos in diaspora, this is more so in Lagos.
Given the above situation, Ndieze are therefore rallying points for their subjects wherever they are domiciled, or which their “kingdoms” are a microcosm of influence, interest, control and somewhat power, which revolves around the macrocosm. While the microcosm represents the L.G.A., the L.C.D.As, Wards, streets and such other conurbations as you may wish to define. The macrocosm on the other hand is the state and in this case, Lagos State. Let us use this singular opportunity to announce to the whole world that Ndieze Ndigbo Lagos have across time built up acceptance, trust, confidence and influence with their subjects and as such they command the obedience of such subjects more or less.
There is no gainsaying, the fact that Igbos are in statistical majority in Lagos coming only after the Yorubas. The Igbos are a hardworking lot who always seek to eke out a living legitimately anywhere they find themselves especially in Lagos. Igbos in diaspora are not touts, agberos or miscreants, they are a bunch of civilized people who have come to add value to the society. It is our motto as a people to add value to the status quo ante wherever we find ourselves. No wonder this has been proven in various facets such as trade, commerce, politics etc.
We have watched Lagos with keen interest and we Ndieze can confidently say that Igbos have become a politically endangered specifies as they are being targeted during every cycle of election.
In the year 2019, you may well recall the ferocity with which agberos at Ago Palace Way descended on the Igbos living in the area as one of “their own” was stopped from doing away with INEC ballot boxes in some pooling boots. It took the intervention of the State Governor to restore calm in the area. Other such attacks happened to Igbos in other areas in that year.
It is also pertinent to mention some events which took place as aftermath of 25th February 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections. They were in the main–
The burning and locking up of shops / market stalls owned by Igbos in Agege.
Locking up of market shops belonging to Igbos in Ikosi, Ketu and Mile 12 areas of Lagos.
Locking of market shops, belonging to Igbos at Apapa etc, in all three cases above, it took the intervention of Ndieze and or Obas and Baales to restore normalcy.
Akere market in Olodi Apapa were set ablaze, one person dead, shops and goods were burning to ashes.
We have seen also, serious of threats to life should any Igbo person vote against a “preferred” party. Such happened in a lot of areas in Lagos including Lekki, Surulere (a pooling boot in Fehintola Gwiwa street), Irawo, Ijedodo etc. such threats are currently making the rounds even for the yet to be held election of the 11th , March 2023. While these miscreants act in this manner, they forget that a great majority of us all belong to this same great party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). Nobody in Lagos is more APC than the Igbos. You may argue that.
Without taking much of our time let us recall that it is a known fact that the Yorubas are in majority in Lagos and the only way their preferred candidate can lose any election in Lagos is when most of them support the opposition.
In any case, when attacks take place, why must it always be against Igbos. Why not attack the Hausas, the Fulanis, the Binis, the Urhobos, the Efiks etc. who also constitute part of the electorates? Meanwhile in some parts of Lagos, many Igbos were not allowed to vote on the 25th of February.
By this press conference Ladies and Gentlemen, we Ndieze unequivocally elect to state as follows-
That we are for peace and we are suing for peace as we are a peaceful people.
That we call for calm and urge our subjects to be calm even in the face of difficulties, molestation and disenfranchisement as highlighted above.
That our subjects should watch situations and communicate or report cases of imminent breakdown of law and order to the appropriate authority promptly.
That we also remind all to be mindful of self-defense as such is on the side of the law also.
That we remind our people in all circumstance to respect others and in fact do that without loss of personal dignity.
That our subjects have been advised to work in consonance with their Ezes especially in this unusual times.
Since 2019, Igbos in Lagos have continued to act in ways that suggest that they are in tandem with the wishes and aspirations of the extant government of Lagos headed by His Excellency Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu. Xenophobia and other forms of racial attacks are preventable especially when nipped in the bud and that is why we implore the Governor His Excellency Sanwo-Olu through his various agencies to work on the sensibility of Lagos youths to be more friendly and accommodating, all virtues Ndigbo promise to reciprocate.
As Ndi Eze, we have constantly and subtly too appealed to the psyche of our youths in order to improve the fortune of the ruling party in Lagos but please reason together with us to recognize the fact that the 2023 voter is the most sophisticated of all Nigerian voter since 1960 of Independence. We Ndi Eze by this release vow to be at the head of this vanguard of peace , and we therefore appeal to governor of Lagos state, Sanwo-Olu to please ensure the safety of all especially Ndigbo. This is the position we have taken as Ndieze.
The following Ezes from their local government were at the press conference which took place at National Stadium, Old Skool, Surulere, Lagos.
Eze Valentine Ezeugo from Ajeromi, HRH Eze Iheme Martins – Nze Ndigbo Na Lekki LCDA, Eze Chukwukadibia Eze Ndi Igbo Na Oriede LCADA, Eze Gerald Onuchukwu , Eze Ndi Igbo EtI –Osa, Eze Pastor Okey A. Igbobo Ikorodo, Eze Uche Dimgba – Eze Ndi Igbo Ikeja, Eze Gabby O. from Apapa, Eze Chris Offia (KSM)– Eze Ndi Igbo Ibeju and chairman Council of Ndieze Lagos State, Eze Emeka Ugwakome – IRU Victoria Island, Eze Remi Anyamele – Secretary General Council of Ndieze, Eze Tony Anosike – Eze Ndi Igbo Onigbongbo, Eze Augustines S. Ojukwu – Eze Amowu Odofin, Chief Sunday Ossai President Ohanaeze, Eze Gabriel Obia Eze Eze Ndi Igbo Shomolu, Eze Dr. O. Okafor Eze Ndi Igbo Surulere, and others. Has called on the state government and other security agent to look into the currency situation and constant attack on the Igbo people and their businesses, following elections and each time elections take place in Legos. Elections has been used to target and perpetrate evil attacks and cause destruction, then pointing fingers to say Igbo’s are evils.
Miscreants who are behind this attack has never be brought to book, Ndi Eze are calling for Peace and also urging the government of the state and federal to look into this matter has it’s continue to be the norm after each election, targeting the Igbo’s and destroy their livelihood.
