Aka Ikenga drags Oba of Lagos to INEC and security agencies. Onoh to take Oba to ICC

Aka Ikenga drags Oba of Lagos to INEC and security agencies

Igbo think tank Aka Ikenga has reported Oba of Lagos, Alhaji Rilwanu Akiolu, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies over his purported threat that Ndigbo in Lagos State would meet with death if they should fail to vote for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, during the April 11 polls.

Aka Ikenga President, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, disclosed this in a statement made available to News Express. He strongly condemned Oba Akiolu’s threat, describing it as “mind-boggling.”

According to the statement, “Aka Ikenga condemns in its entirety the statement credited to the highly respected Oba of Lagos threatening Ndigbo resident in Lagos to vote only a particular candidate in this governorship and state Assembly election. It is mind-boggling that Ndigbo are threatened with consequence if they disobey. It is a known fact that we seek a free and fair election. At what point were Yoruba and Hausa Fulani people threatened for their votes?

“We 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 INEC and the security agencies to whom we have copied this press release.”

Ohanaeze, Igbo leaders meet

Disturbed by the issue, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo went into an emergency meeting to take a stand on the Oba’s threats to allegedly make life unbearable for Ndigbo, if they did not vote for his candidate.

President General of Ohanaeze, Chief Gary Igariwey, said: “All the Igbo leaders in Lagos will meet tonight (yesterday) on the issue. Once they are through, they will communicate me and an official stance will be made known.”

Meanwhile, political groups and individuals in Enugu State have lashed out at Akiolu over his comments, insisting that the royal stool had become political.

Reacting to the Oba’s stance, Commissioner for Inter-Ministerial Duties, Enugu State, Mr. Beloved-Dam Anike, said:

“What this simply means is that the Oba is a political father. Igbo are true Nigerians and have the right to live and eke a living anywhere they like. Igbo have contributed over 70 per cent of Lagos economic growth.”

A political think-tank, Enugu Unity Forum, EUF, spoke through its chairman, Chief Tahil Ochi, saying: “Igbo and Yoruba have had cordial relationship. The issue of election should not bring the relationship to a halt. The Oba should remove politics from the relationship and preach peace, unity and not war. As an Oba, he should be the father of all.”

Ono to take Oba to ICC

Meanwhile, Dr. Josef Onoh, son of former governor of old Anambra State, has vowed to drag the Oba of Lagos to the ICC over the alleged threats.

Describing the Oba’s utterance as a grievous incitement against the Igbo in Lagos, Onoh said: “Let it be known that whether Oba Akilou’s threat comes to fruition or not, I have concluded to take him to the ICC where he will keep company with the likes of Charles Taylor and answer to human rights charges that will be preferred against him.”

He stated that Oba Akiolu, by his threat of sinking Ndigbo into the lagoon if they voted against APC in the April 11 governorship election for Lagos State, should be condemned.

He, therefore, urged his fellow Igbo brothers and sisters to exercise their fundamental right and vote for who they wanted, irrespective of the threat.