Oba Akiolu’s threat: Will APC’s apology save Ambode?

In order to calm frayed nerves, shortly after Oba Rilwan Akiolu’s alleged threat to the Igbo in Lagos, the All Progressives Congress, APC in the State apologised to Igbo in the state over the statement credited to the traditional ruler last Sunday. It is yet to be seen whether the Igbo will bury the hatchet and cast their votes according to their conscience before the alleged Oba’s threat or cast a protest vote against the ruling party in today’s election.

Akiolu allegedly threatened that Igbo would drown in Lagos Lagoon within seven days if they failed to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode in today’s election. Since then, outrage, anger and wide condemnation have been trailing the Oba’s statement. The Oba, hitherto, had been visibly partisan in the run-off to the election.

In spite of the palace clarification in a statement signed by Opeluwa of Lagos, Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, saying that the Lagos monarch was misquoted and had no grouse with non-indigenes in the state and that he remained father of all Lagos residents, the party observed that the development may have a catastrophic impact on the chances of the ruling party. The Oba’s remarks when some Igbo residing in Lagos paid him a courtesy call has gone viral in the social media. A few days ago, the party had to tender apology to the teeming Igbo residents in the state, pleading for forgiveness.

In a statement issued recently by the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Joe Igbokwe, the party pleaded with the Igbo in the state to discountenance the statement by Akiolu. The statement reads in part: “The party apologise most sincerely to Ndigbo to bury the hatchet in the interest of peace and harmony, considering the long standing relationship that has existed between Igbo and Yoruba since the inception of Nigeria.

“No human being is above mistakes. People can make mistakes and correct them thereafter. The Oba of Lagos can make a mistake and we believe that the statement credited to him was a mistake. If to err is human, we plead with Ndigbo to let the sleeping dog lie.

“After the March 28, 2015 presidential elections, Ndigbo in Lagos have been trooping into the Lagos APC fold in droves. They have pledged to throw their full weight behind the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. The support was total and unprecedented. You can, therefore, imagine how we feel as a party when this incident came just few days to the governorship elections. “Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos is not a card-carrying member of APC. He is not a leader in APC. He does not speak for APC. He did not speak for governor Fashola of Lagos State. He did not speak for our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He did not speak for the incoming governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode. His Royal Highness is at liberty to speak for himself and he spoke for himself only.”

However, the APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also stated that the Oba was not a card carrying member of the party and therefore, he could not speak for the party. The Chairman of the party in the state, Otunba Henry Ajomale also said that the traditional ruler, though was misconstrued, whatever he said was absolutely a personal opinion.

“That was the Oba’s opinion and that does not necessarily represent my own opinion or that of my party. Don’t forget that he has the constitutional right as a Nigerian. But I think he is being misquoted and misconstrued. I am surprised the PDP is using it as a tool when the Oba is not a member of the APC.”

“The Ndigbo should be calm as they have nothing to fear in Lagos. They should disregard the statement and go about their normal duties without fear as far as we are concerned. We have millions of Igbo who are APC members. They are our members and they have stake in the party. So, the opinion of Oba which I believe was misconstrued does not represent that of the party.”

Ajomale maintained that no party or state has set the stage for democracy to thrive by giving non-Yoruba residents and the Igbo the free-hand to participate in the electoral process than the state and APC. “So, the Igbo should have nothing to fear. This government will continue to accommodate all tribes.”

The youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has also threatened to hold the monarch responsible if anything happens to any Igbo or his or business in the event of an emergence of a governor against the choice of the monarch because according to the group, the threat constitutes a violation of their fundamental right to life. Also, the human-rights community frowns at discriminatory policies and ensures that victims of human rights abuse are defended and protected regardless of their ethnic identity.

It is feared that with the pent-up feelings of the Ndigbo, the permutations and calculation might change in favour of the People’s Democratic Party’ Candidate, PDP which has also seized the opportunity not only to condemn the Oba but has also called for his suspension.

However, it is a fact that the Igbo, who constitute higher percentage of non-indigene in the state, have become the bride.

Undoubtedly, the Igbo who could be found anywhere in the state are about the most populated non-Yoruba group domiciled in the state. In areas like Amuwo Odofin, Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Ojo, Satellite, Oshodi, FESTAC-Towns, Aguda, Alaba, Kirikiri, Ajegunle to mention a few, have come to form a size-able population resident in Lagos. In the last Presidential and National Assembly elections, two Igbos and one Uhrobo candidates won elections into the House of Representatives.

It should also be noted that the residency right of every citizen is constitutionally guaranteed and so, the threat constitutes a violation of the fundamental right of thousands of citizens to life.

In the case of Director-General of State Security Service v Olisa Agbakoba (1999) 3 N.W.L.R (PT 595) 314 it was held by the Supreme Court that “it is not in dispute that the Constitution gives every Nigerian citizen the right to move throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof. It also guarantees to the citizen the right not to be expelled from Nigeria nor be refused entry or exit therefrom.”

The APC can authoritatively claim to accommodate the Igbo in Lagos.

It is on record that an Igbo man is serving in Fashola’s cabinet as commissioner of finance. And Igbo is also the spokesman of APC in Lagos.

Although many still believe that the Oba’s vituperation is just a mere statement as he lacks the power to cause anyone to “die in the Lagoon within seven days”, the peace and stability that permeated the last election should not taken for granted. The mantra of change that the people envisage should be that of unity and continued support to one another.

By Ishola Balogun