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Aka Ikenga, MASSOB , others condemn traditional ruler’s action

By Kodilinye Obiagwu and Lawrence Njoku(Enugu)
07 April 2015   |   9:20 am
PROMINENT Igbo groups across the country yesterday condemned the alleged threat on Igbo residents in Lagos by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu to vote for his preferred candidate in the April 11 governorship election or face his wrath. 
Chief Goddy Uwazurike

Chief Goddy Uwazurike.

PROMINENT Igbo groups across the country yesterday condemned the alleged threat on Igbo residents in Lagos by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu to vote for his preferred candidate in the April 11 governorship election or face his wrath.

The President of the Igbo Think Tank, Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike  condemned in its entirety the statement describing it as mind boggling and insensitive.
Uwazurike added: “It is mind boggling that Ndigbo are threatened with dire consequences if they disobey the Oba’s directives on who to vote for as governor of Lagos. It is a fact that we seek a free and fair election and nothing can deter us from that. At what point were the Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani threatened for their votes?”

According to him, Ndigbo everywhere in the world, “have waited in vain for a retraction of this statement, but we have stated it repeatedly that people should vote according to their conscience without any fear or favour. Freedom of choice is an inherent right and nobody can take it away from Ndigbo. For the avoidance of doubt, threat to one Igbo man is a threat to us all. We shall do our civic duty as directed by the Independent National  Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to whom we have copied this press release.”

Also ,the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Igbo Youths Movement (IYM) said the monarch hasset in motion a new wave of intolerance that could jeopardise the
survival of Nigeria.
.Reacting to the statement yesterday, MASSOB through its Director of Information, Uchenna Madu, said the Oba has no authority to intimidate Ndigbo in Lagos.
Founder of the IYM, Elliot Uko, said that Oba Akiolu has by his
utterance redefined democracy and tolerance of other ethnic group’s
democratic rights and choices.

IYM added: “ Akiolu has just empowered traditional rulers all over Nigeria to gather all the non indigenes in their domain, insult and humiliate them and order them on who and how to vote in election or else life will be made unbearable for them.

Dr. Josef Umunnakwe Onoh, the son of the late former Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Christian C. Onoh, called for the defrocking of the Oba for what he described as a grievous incitement against the Igbo in Lagos.

Vowing to drag Oba Akiolu to the International Criminal Court of Justice (ICC) “to answer to such inciting and mindless statements,” he stated that the Oba by his threat has portrayed himself as an ethnic jingoist, who is incapable of holding such a respected position as Oba of Lagos,

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