By Uche Mbah
The Socio cultural Igbo group, Ohaneze Ndigbo, has asked the Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwolu, to ignore the report which alleged a plot by Igbo Secessionist group, the Indigenous people Of Biafra, IPOB, to attack Lagos. Ohaneze insists the allegation is a ploy to put a political wedge between the Yoruba and the Igbo.
This allegation of a planned attack by IPOB was, for the records, first made by an Igbo man, Joe Igbokwe, an aide to Governor Sanwo-Olu.
The stong allegation against IPOB by Igbokwe which he recorded in Igbo language, came as a sort of advisory asking IPOB to keep off Lagos, and concentrate their alleged attacks on the South-east Zone, only.
Outraged by Mr Igbokwe’s unsubstantiated allegations, Ndigbo Lagos, the umbrella body of all Igbo Associations in Lagos, accused Igbokwe of deliberately inciting the Yoruba against the Igbo.
Meanwhile in Lagos, the Commissioner of Police had, during a security summit, insisted that IPOB and some Yoruba separatist groups are planning attacks in Lagos.
But the President General of Ohaneze Prof George Obiozor, has denied any such plans by IPOB.
The President General, who lived a greater part of his life in Lagos and rose to be the Director General of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, said the rumor was a ploy to pit the Yoruba against the Igbo.
“The dangerous rumor is aimed at causing division, crisis and conflict among us,” he said.
Obiozor made the statement when he led the group on a courtesy call on Lagos State
Governor, Babajide Sanwolu.
Obiozor said:
“The leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, in the company of Igbo Elders and Leaders in Lagos, are here to reassure you that Ndigbo are not violent, neither are we known for acts of violence anywhere we live.
“The dangerous insinuations, rumour, gossips and callous statements that Ndigbo in Lagos, or any part of Yoruba land, is contemplating violence in Lagos or any part of Yoruba land, are false.
“We state clearly that anywhere this dangerous rumor or statement is emanating from is aimed to cause division, crises and conflict among us.
“We believe this rumor is intended to distract the governor from providing good governance for all and cause disaffection between Ndigbo who live in Lagos and their host community which is the second home of several Ndigbo.
“The quick denial of this rumour by members of IPOB and Yoruba groups in Lagos and across the Southwest was a source of relief.”
In his response, Sanwolu assured the group that Igbos are a great people, and he would continue, through good governance, to protect all residents in the state.
