From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja and Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
The apex Igbo socio-cultural association, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has resolved to meet Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over ongoing demolition of property allegedly belonging to Igbo in Lagos State.
Recently, Lagos government and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) demolished some buildings in Lekki, Ikota, Ajao Estate, FESTAC, Abule Ado and other parts of the state for reportedly obstructing water drainage channels and contravening the state’s building plans.
Wild complaints had trailed the demolition of the houses, and big markets belonging majorly to Igbo due to the fall-out of this year’s general elections. But on Wednesday, the government debunked allegations that the demolition was targeted at a particular ethnic group.
Reacting to the development at a world press conference in Abuja yesterday, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said the association could no longer watch from the sidelines.
He declared that part of their resolutions was also to protect the property and assets of Igbo legally acquired across the country from facing any form of threat.
The elder statesman also disclosed that the association had concluded arrangements to establish an Ohanaeze Relief Agency to be controlled by top Igbo leaders, to support Igbo citizens in distress over the loss of their property.
Iwuanyanwu equally urged the Sanwo-Olu to emulate President Bola Tinubu, who never touched the property of any Igbo as governor for the eight years he spent.
He announced that having concluded the controversies over the presidential election through the Supreme Court in favour of President Tinubu, Ohanaeze Ndigbo was left with no option than to recognise, respect, and be loyal to him as the president of Nigeria.
“At this point, I want to congratulate the Igbo as very patriotic, loyal and faithful citizens of Nigeria. Nigeria, in order to survive socially and economically, requires foreign and local investments. I am proud to say that my people, the Igbo, have made investments in all the nooks and cranny of the country.
“Wherever they go, they buy properties, build educational facilities. They transform barren lands into habitable lands. So, in effect, no ethnic group in Nigeria has made more investments in Nigeria than the Igbo. When a foreigner invests in Nigeria, he makes an effort to repatriate his investment to his country, but the Igbo investor has his investment in Nigeria.
“The investment behaviour of the Igbo is, therefore, a patriotic gesture, which all leaders, governors, presidents should acknowledge. I encourage other ethnic groups in Nigeria to do as the Igbo are doing; to invest in other regions outside their home of origin.
“I have carried out investigations on what has happened in Lagos, and I appeal to the government of Lagos State to intervene and ensure that justice is done. If anybody fails to obey the laws of the land, the Igbo leadership will never support misconduct from any Igbo man anywhere they live.
“I don’t have any doubt that there may be some instances where the Igbo, and perhaps, other people whose property was demolished in Lagos, did not fully comply with the laws of Lagos State. If any developer, with impunity, and without proper approval, proceeds to develop a property anywhere in the world, he is taking a risk, and his property stands the risk of being demolished.
“On the other hand, if the property is properly purchased, approved from the appropriate authority given before development, the individual deserves a happy and peaceful enjoyment of his assets. If any government demolishes the property built with approval of the appropriate government’s department, such government, by law, must pay appropriate compensation for all the damages incurred to the owner of the building.
“I will make an attempt to see the governor of Lagos State in the next few days. I will, therefore, appeal that the governor of Lagos State should kindly suspend the demolition of buildings until all the facts are cleared.
“I have also got reports of violation of building regulations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Because of the investment characteristics of the Igbo, private properties and investments in Abuja are substantially owned by the Igbo.
“I will advise my people, the Igbo, to ensure that they comply with all legislations and local regulations to avoid demolition of their properties in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria. It has been brought to my notice that many families have been thrown into serious difficulty due to the demolition in Lagos State. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo will establish an Ohanaeze Relief Agency to be controlled by top Igbo leaders. The Ohaneze Ndigbo will, through this agency, support Igbo citizens in distress. We will also support other Nigerians, when the need arises, in the spirit of brotherhood,” he announced.
On the decision to support the Tinubu-led government, Iwuanyanwu said: “The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, as governor of Lagos State was very good to the Igbo. Throughout his eight-year tenure as the governor of Lagos State, there was no complaint or report of any maltreatment of the Igbo in Lagos. During his tenure, I visited his home a number of times, and he was very kind and patriotic. Fortunately, Tinubu is now the president of Nigeria.
“We did not support him during the presidential election, but that did not, in any way, undermine our trust in his capacity to lead the country. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled in his favour, President Tinubu can be rest assured that Ohanaeze Ndigbo will recognise, respect and be loyal to him as the president of Nigeria.”
“What the Igbo require is peace, fairness, justice and equity. We will demand that what is our share, be given to us. We believe in one united Nigeria, where people of different tribes, creed or ethnicity can move with pride and confidence, and get what they rightly deserve without any hindrance,” he said.
Meanwhile, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has warned that it is an act of impossibility for the Igbo people living in Lagos or Abuja to be forced out and forcefully relocated back to the South-East geopolitical zone.
The group said that asking the Igbo people to leave Lagos through threats of violence against them and their property is like asking the Yoruba people to return Lagos to the ancient Bini Empire, saying those threatening the Igbo people with violence against their persons and properties or sponsoring same against them so as to force them into fleeing the two areas and relocating back to the South-East must, first of all, return Eko (Bini War Camp) to the ancient Bini (Benin) Empire (Kingdom).
A statement by the Chairman of the Intersociety, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, stated that forcing the Igbo out of Lagos is totally and eternally, an act of impossibility, and urged the Igbo people to use all the legal means to protect themselves and their properties.
“Also, under “United Nigeria” or “Nigeria in Pieces,” Igbo people will never be forced out of Lagos or Abuja. The historical realities and present realities on the ground must be accepted by all and sundry, including the hirers, instigators, attackers and aiders/abettors.