FORMER information minister and Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark has wadded into the ongoing furore caused by the Oba of Lagos' comments by telling non-indigenes in the state to ignore the recent threat from Oba Rilwanu Akiolu and join others to vote en-masse for Jimi Agbaje.
Over the weekend Oba Rilwanu Lukman cause controversy by threatening Igbos in Lagos State that if they did not vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode, they would be thrown into the Lagos Lagoon. His comments have attracted widespread condemnation from politicians of all parties and different ethnic groups.
Regarded as President Goodluck Jonathan's godfather, Chief Clark has now waded into the matter, advising the monarch to respect the laws of the land because he is not above the law. He then urged Igbos in Lagos to vote for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Jimi Agbaje instead of Mr Ambode.
Chief Clarke said: “It is most disheartening to learn today that the Oba of Lagos is pouring acidic vitriol on non-Yoruba in Lagos, singling out the Igbo, for voting President Goodluck Jonathan, in last week’s election. It is doubly shameful, most unbecoming of the standard set by previous Obas of Lagos like Oba Oyekan that Oba Akiolu is reported to have threatened to throw all those who voted in Lagos State against the APC into the waters of Lagos.
"What would possess the occupier of such an important stool in Nigeria to commit himself in partisan politics to the extent of threatening life and safety, before the voting and within a week of Mr President’s display of statesman-like handling of political outcomes?”
Already, the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, said he would not initiate moves to prosecute the monarch because he has denied the allegations. He added that he read in the papers that the Oba of Lagos denied making such threatening comments to prospective voters opposed to his candidate of choice for the state governor.
Gary Enwo-Igariwey, the president of Ohaneze Ndigbo, said he viewed the Oba’s threat with serious concern especially coming from a first class traditional ruler in the country at a time when Nigerians are celebrating the peaceful conduct of the just-concluded presidential and National Assembly elections. He called on Ndigbo to be bold and courageous as always and vote massively for any candidate of their choice based on their conscience and interests without fear.
“Ohanaeze, therefore, directs as a people, Ndigbo cannot and should not succumb to any form of intimidation from any quarters no matter the consequences, especially in a place they have laboured with others to build. Ndigbo are interested in building a nation where all Nigerians are free to live and develop in any part of the country in harmony with other nationalities without discrimination," Mr Enwo-Igariwey added.
