THE Igbo Mandate group in the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC), has assured Igbo residents in the state, that they would not be marginalized in the scheme of things in the state; especially in the distribution of political patronages by the party in the state.

The group noted that successive administrations in the state since the advent of the current democratic dispensation, has been striving to accommodate the Igbos in the governance of the state, but added that much still needed to be done to give them the truly deserved sense of belonging.

The group for instance cited the appointment of Mr Ben Akabueze as the state’s former Commissioner for Economic Planning and Joe Igbokwe as spokesperson for the sate’s APC, the inauguration of Igbo Mandate, the issue of marginalization of the Igbos would receive more attention.

National Coordinator, Igbo Mandate, Mr. Anslem Udoka gave this assurance in Lagos at the inauguration of the Ejigbo Council chapter of the group, stressing that the birth of group was borne out of the neglect Igbo at the grass root had suffered over a long time.

His words, “What happened during the last election could not be unconnected with the sidelining of Igbos at the grass root and this is what we are trying to correct.

“We are therefore going round from local government to local government to inaugurate the Igbo Mandate in APC with a view to sensitizing Igbo youths that contrary to the impression that they are hated by APC, they are truly loved by the fathers of the party, including the National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and the fact that they have a lot to benefit in APC.

“This is the reason why we are impressing it upon the executives being inaugurated today that Igbo Mandate in APC has come to stay and that they are expected to visit every ward and every zone, meet our Igbo brothers and sisters, talk to them and let them understand the meaning of Igbo Mandate, even if it means talking to them in Igbo dialect and why we must all continue to vote for APC.

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has always been on our side and has never been against Igbo interest. This point is buttressed by the fact that he was the first governor to have Igbo person in his cabinet in the person of Ben Akabueze as the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Lagos State, followed by Fashola. Today, Joe Igbokwe is also in Lagos State as APC Publicity Secretary who also controls other agencies.

“I also want to seize this medium to correct the impression created in the minds of Igbos by the statement they claimed that Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu made.

I am emphasizing that the Oba’s statement was twisted to give the monarch a bad name.

Also speaking at the occasion a representative of the state government, Chinyere Anokwuru said she had gone through the manifesto of Igbo Mandate in APC and would recommend that other Igbos should join the group.

She counseled the Igbos on how to relate peacefully with their hosts. “You are in someone else’s state you should be able to work with that person. Do not claim to be superior though you are not inferior but of course, you are in somebody’s state and you are expected to flow with that person.

“Tinubu has never been against Igbo interest. During his time as governor, he had Ben Akabueze as a Commissioner, Fashola too did. I am an Ibo woman and I am a Senior Special Assistant in Lagos State Government. Who says that they hate Ibos, they do not hate Ibos, they always carry us along” she said.