Don’t Succumb to Threat, WIC Tells Ndigbo in Lagos

Zacheaus Somorin The World Igbo Congress, the umbrella organization of Ndigbo in the Diaspora, has told Ndigbo residing in Lagos State not to be intimidated by any form of threat in Lagos, saying that Igbos across the nation are guaranteed equal protection of the law just like every Nigerian as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

In a statement jointly singed by Larry Udorji, WIC Chairman, Cyril Nwaguru, WIC Secretary General and Jimmy Asiegbu, Public Relations Officer, respectively, the group noted that Igbos in Lagos deserve an apology from Oba Rilvan Akiolu of Lagos over his threat that Ndi Igbo in Lagos will be drowned in the Lagos Lagoon if they fail to vote for his candidate.

“While we recognise and respect His Royal Highness, Oba Rilwan Akiolu as the traditional ruler of Lagos, his recent statement which is unbecoming of a custodian of his peoples’ tradition and custom, has brought profound disrepute and shame to the esteemed office he occupies”, the statement said.

“Every Nigerian citizen, including Oba Akiolu and his family have the constitutionally guaranteed right to vote his or her conscience at the polls in a democratic dispensation, without being unduly threatened. We call on those who have the ears of Oba Rilwan Akiolu to be guided accordingly and contain his excesses as the Igbo will no longer condone the ignorance and primordial sentiments that informed such dastardly initiatives as the Abandoned Property saga in a country that is purported to be One Nation with One Destiny”, the statement added.

The group called on President Goodluck Jonathan, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman A. Abba, Gov. T.A. Orji, Governor Willie Maduabuchukwu Obiano, Governor Rochas Okorocha, Gov. Martin Elechi, Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and all the Igbo members of the Federal and State Houses of Assembly to intervene, saying Igbos “will take any and every necessary and proper action to defend itself.