The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state, Akin Ambode, has released a statement that he would not run a discriminatory government if he is elected as governor next Saturday.

Even though he did not mention the Oba of Lagos by name, Ambode made the statement because of a discriminatory statement which the oba allegedly made on Sunday in which he threatened that Igbos who voted against his choice of Ambode will die in the lagoon.

Oba Akiolu had said:

“On Saturday, if anyone of you goes against Ambode, who I picked, that is your end. If it does not happen within seven days, just know that I am a bastard and it is not my father who gave birth to me.

“By the grace of God, I am the owner of Lagos for the time being. This is an undivid­ed chair. The palace belongs to the dead and those coming in the future. On Saturday, if anyone of you, I swear in the name of God, goes against my wish that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos State, the person is going to die in­side this water.

“For the Igbo and others in Lagos, they should go where the Oba of Lagos heads to. When they were coming to the state, they did not come with all their houses. But now, they have properties in the state. So they must do my bidding. And that is the bidding of the ances­tors of Lagos and God.

“I am not ready to beg you. Nobody knew how I picked Ambode. Jimi is my blood relation and I told him that he could never be governor in Lagos for now. The future belongs to God. I am not beg­ging anybody, but what you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere you cannot do it here.”

In his statement however, Ambode did not mention the Oba by name, but he gave assurances to all Lagosians:

“Every group in Lagos will be safe in my hands as governor. I will not discriminate against any religious or ethnic group. It is our Lagos and we must build it together.

“In my acceptance speech after the primaries I made this note that I will be a governor for all and Lagos is safe  in my hands. I want to build on the foundation of unity, peace and progress and development laid by my predecessors.

“I am your best choice for a Lagos that must continue to thrive. And though tongue and tribe may differ we Stand in brotherhood in Lagos from the smallest ethnic groups to the major ones.  We are all stakeholders.”