Hold Oba Akiolu Responsible if Any Harm Befall Igbos, Say Igbo Groups

Oba of Lagos, HRM Rilwan Akiolu 1

Anayo Okoli

The Coalition of Igbo Organisations, Traditional Council of Eze Ndi Igbo and other Igbo groups in Lagos on Friday said the Oba of Lagos, HRM Rilwan Akiolu 1, should be held responsible if any harm befalls any Igbo person, in any circumstances during and after the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Lagos.

The monarch had on Sunday said that the Igbo would perish in the Lagos lagoon within seven days if they did not vote the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate during this Saturday’s governorship election.
Reacting to the comment, the statement jointly signed by Prince Andy Moore Ezejioha and Prince Solomon Ominyi, the Coalition of Igbo Organisations, which described the monarch’s statement as a step to intimidate and cow Igbos into political slavery, appealed to the Police and other security agencies to fortify all polling centres to ensure that voters are not molested or intimidated.

“The threat by the Royal Father that Igbos must vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode in the April 11, 2015 governorship election in Lagos State, or they will perish in the lagoon, is demeaning and an incursion on the right of Igbos to freely vote for the candidate of their choice in the election.

According to the statement, “This threat is not only meant to give Akinwunmi Ambode an undue advantage, but also to intimidate and cow Igbos into political slavery.

“This is where the Coalition of Igbo Organisations is concerned. We hence call on Igbos to throng out en mass to prove the Royal Father wrong by voting for the candidate of their choice.

“While we call on the police and other security agencies to fortify all polling booths in Lagos to ensure that voters are not molested or intimidated. We further state that we shall hold His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1 responsible if harm befalls any Igbo person, in any circumstances in this 2015 election and beyond.

“We have sent formal petition on His Royal Majesty’s threat to the Inspector General of Police, as well as other relevant local and international authorities, and we are also seeking necessary legal advice to ensure that the Constitutional rights of our people are guaranteed and protected in our country at all times,” they said.

The groups further urged government at all levels to educate and caution those who hold sensitive positions in our country, especially Royal Fathers to play expected fatherly and neutral roles in politics and not to flagrantly, desperately and emotionally expose themselves as partisans as Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1 has done in this instance.

“We again call on Igbos to carry out their civic responsibility of participating in the elections like any other Nigerian without fear.”