Igbo leaders ‘will meet’ to discuss Akiolu’s threat

Leaders of Ndigbo in Lagos state have planned to meet over the anti-Igbo comments made by Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, TheCable has confirmed.

On Sunday, Akiolu threatened Igbo people (and others) in Lagos with death, saying they would perish in the Lagoon if they failed to vote Akinwunmi Ambode, the gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the April 11 elections.

The monarch, who swore in the name of God while issuing his threats, said no one knew why he picked Ambode but none of the Igbo leaders must go against his wish that Ambode would be the next governor of Lagos state.

Amidst the threats, the king had two applauses from his audience as he expressed himself at his Iga Idunganran palace.

After his speech, Gordian Dimojiaku, the Eze-Ndigbo of Amuwo-Odofin, promised Akiolu that the Igbos in the state would support Ambode as they had already sworn to do so.

“We are going to tell our people that Ezes from the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas are here and that we have sworn with the Oba that we are going to make sure that Ambode wins next Saturday’s election,” he said.

However, Dimojiaku, who said he was not available for a physical interview, told TheCable on phone that the Igbo leaders would meet and decide which way to go on the Oba’s threats.

“No opinion for now, until we sit for meeting, we cannot tell any person when the meeting would be,” he said.

When asked if Igbo should indeed vote for Ambode, he said; “I don’t talk to people when I don’t see them, this is a kingdom”.

On Tuesday, Pat Utomi, a revered economist and professor from the ethnic group, took to Twitter to defend the king, who he said he had known for decades.

“The arena of politics slippery slope, the remarks by the Oba of Lagos are inappropriate but all who know him know he talks so in jest,” he said.

“(I) have known Oba Akiolu for 20 years. He says worse to me every time we see, but I have no doubt he is fond of me. How do you tell outsiders so?”

“Typical of Oba as he sees me: Pat go return our land where you built that Lagos Business School. I respond; hold Asiwaju (Tinubu) who signed C of O (certificate of ownership).”

Earlier on Monday, Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, the Opeluwa of Lagos, had released a statement attempting to vindicate the king, it only “came up” that “whoever works against the throne and the interest and peaceful co-existence of Lagos would end up in the lagoon as per tradition”.‎

The video and audio of the King’s statements to the Ndigbo later went viral, confirming he indeed made the comments attributed to him.

The APC subsequently apologised to Lagosians, saying the king’s mistake did not represent the position of APC.

“No human being is above mistakes. People can make mistakes and correct it thereafter. The Oba of Lagos can make a mistake and we believe that the statement credited to him was a mistake,” the party said in a statement.

“If to err is human, we plead with Ndigbo to let the sleeping dog lie. His Royal Highness is at liberty to speak for himself and he spoke for himself only. Lagos APC appeals to Ndigbo not to take the statement as the position of the party in Lagos.”