The Oba of Lagos, Oba Akiolu has cleared the air on an
alleged lagoon statement credited to him, insisting that he was misquoted and
never meant it the way people interpreted it. According to him, Lagosians are
very accommodating, but non-indigenes must respect the culture and tradition of
their host. He also went ahead saying even prominent Igbo
leaders have been written them and complaining about the numbers of Ezes in Lagos. Below is an exclusive chat he had with Punch.
alleged lagoon statement credited to him, insisting that he was misquoted and
never meant it the way people interpreted it. According to him, Lagosians are
very accommodating, but non-indigenes must respect the culture and tradition of
their host. He also went ahead saying even prominent Igbo
leaders have been written them and complaining about the numbers of Ezes in Lagos. Below is an exclusive chat he had with Punch.
While responding to a question on the threat he issued out
to Igbo residents in Lagos State if they did not vote for Akinwunmi Ambode of
the All Progressives Congress, Akiolu maintained that he had no ill feeling
towards Igbo in the state as some of his closest friends were Igbo.
to Igbo residents in Lagos State if they did not vote for Akinwunmi Ambode of
the All Progressives Congress, Akiolu maintained that he had no ill feeling
towards Igbo in the state as some of his closest friends were Igbo.
He said, “Eze Odimegwu, who is a former CEO of Nigerian
Breweries, is still my best friend as well as many others. The Obi of Onitsha
came to visit me here a few days ago. When you go to a place, you have to
respect the host leaders, particularly the traditional leaders there because
you are coming to benefit from their success.
Breweries, is still my best friend as well as many others. The Obi of Onitsha
came to visit me here a few days ago. When you go to a place, you have to
respect the host leaders, particularly the traditional leaders there because
you are coming to benefit from their success.
“The people of Lagos are the friendliest and most
accommodating people in Nigeria.”
accommodating people in Nigeria.”
He said the video which showed him issuing threats to Igbo
leaders was a misrepresentation of what truly transpired.
leaders was a misrepresentation of what truly transpired.
He said the issue was twisted by those who wanted to gain
political advantage ahead of the governorship election but God put them to
shame.
political advantage ahead of the governorship election but God put them to
shame.
“Those who orchestrated the entire incident know themselves
and I tell you, those (Igbo leaders) who came here on that day understand me a
lot and have even been coming since then,” he said.
and I tell you, those (Igbo leaders) who came here on that day understand me a
lot and have even been coming since then,” he said.
Akiolu said many of the non-indigenes were deceived by
politicians in their quest for power.
politicians in their quest for power.
He said, “The man that promised to hand them deputy
governorship slot and four commissioner positions and would elevate the status
of Eze Ndigbo to that of Oba of Lagos has since denied it.
governorship slot and four commissioner positions and would elevate the status
of Eze Ndigbo to that of Oba of Lagos has since denied it.
“It was all a political gimmick because I am sure they know
that he was only deceiving them. As a matter of fact, prominent traditional
rulers in the South-East have been writing us to say that they are not happy
about the large number of ezes in Lagos,” he said.
that he was only deceiving them. As a matter of fact, prominent traditional
rulers in the South-East have been writing us to say that they are not happy
about the large number of ezes in Lagos,” he said.
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