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Chinelo Obogo
Chairman of the Lagos chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Solomon Ogbonna, has debunked reports of ethnic conflict between Igbo and Yoruba communities in the state.
Speaking during a press conference, recently, at the organisation’s official secretariat in Surulere, Lagos, Ogbonna said despite the violence which occurred during last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections in areas dominated by non-indigenes, it was not a case of feud between Igbo and Yoruba.
He said the the leadership of Ohanaeze is working with Igbo leaders within and outside Lagos to ensure that both ethnic groups continue living in peace.
“Our interest is in the welfare and peaceful co-existence between the Igbo and the Yoruba. There is no Igbo family that does not have relation in Lagos.
“This is our home and Yoruba are our friends. It is unfortunate that if there is tension between a Calabar man and Yoruba man, the news that will get out is that the crisis is between Igbo and Yoruba. This has been going on for long and we want to put an end to it. We want to say unequivocally that there is no issue between Igbo and Yoruba in Lagos.
“We got reports of violence in some parts of Lagos during the presidential election, but, after our investigation, we realised that there was no truth to the reports that Igbo and Yoruba were in crisis.
“Election crisis happened all over the country and no one attributed it to crisis between two ethnic groups. It is our duty to ensure that tension is not escalated. Ohanaeze is the umbrella body of all the Igbo groups and organisations in Nigeria and the diaspora.”
So if there is any Igbo person that has any issues, be should contact the official secretariat in Surulere,” Ogbonna said.
