Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, has said that there are up to three million Igbos who are of voting age in Lagos State.
Such a claimed figure, observers are likely to note, may have implication for voting equation in the state known to be a melting pot.
Igbos have, especially in recent times, been making statement with their presence during elections, as symbolised by the election of some of them as lawmakers.
Umahi also noted that the Igbo were very strong with infrastructure presence in Lagos and Abuja.
He noted this when speaking during a meeting with Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike, in solidarity with him over the latter’s efforts to get rid of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
He said:
We have 11.5million Igbos living in the north. We have three million Igbos that are of voting age in Lagos State not to talk about other parts of this country. And somebody wants to start a war for us so that the Igbos will be slaughtered.
“We can claim here and show leaders back home that all we read in the social media from your own account are all lies. We did not come to verify your claims. You did not report to us.
I have lived in Rivers State for a very long time. My six children out of seven were all born here in Rivers State. We have never had any form of discrimination here. We must call a spade a spade.
During the civil war, we lost three million Igbos. Most of them were killed when they were running away from the north back to the southeast. Everywhere you go in this country, you see our infrastructure. Think about the percentage of infrastructure of Ndigbo in Lagos and in Abuja. Who brings war upon itself?
We, Ndiigbo, we do not support criminalities. Do not buy into any criminal that is from our side. I find it very funny when somebody is going to be claiming that part of Benue State must descend into his territory and part of Rivers State must descend into his territory. What sort of madness is that?
Even if there is referendum, people must freely say where they want to belong to. You can’t force them. No matter the history you have, you can’t force people to belong to where you want them belong. They want to belong to where they want to belong.
Why I am telling you this is that we should be wise not to support what is wrong. Let’s go back and tell ourselves the truth. What is happening cannot be said to be for Ndiigbo. Those people are not speaking for us. What are you agitating for and you are destroying the properties of Ndiigbo? Won’t that tell you that they are looking for something?
