From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has condemned a statement credited to Chief Bode George, asking why Igbo would focus on developing Lagos instead of their own states. It described the statement as bigoted, narrow-thinking and self-serving.
The Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia, said in a statement that the group would have ignored George’s comments but that could give validity to a whimsical figment of a transactional imagination.
“The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to the remarks credited to Chief Bode George as to why the Igbo couldn’t focus on developing their own states instead of Lagos. George went on to ask what stops Iwuanyanwu from developing the Igbo land instead of developing Lagos? And given the pervasive problem of widespread poverty among Nigerians, the subject chosen by Iwuanyanwu shouldn’t be the main focus,” Ogbonnia said.
He said Chief George made the above remarks as a reaction to the world press conference by the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
Ogbonnia said: “In the press conference, Chief Iwuanyanwu stated that when Lagos was elevated as the capital of Nigeria, it attracted persons, groups and governments from all parts of Nigeria and across the world. The Igbo leader pointed out that Lagos as a federal capital, gave rise to multi-ethnic inflow, population explosion and diverse economic activities.
“The Igbo leader commended the Igbo spirit of corporate social responsibility by adding values to whichever environment they find themselves in. Ahaejiagamba stated very correctly that the Igbo, like every other group, did not acquire their properties in Lagos by brute force; instead they were lawfully purchased and evidenced with certificates of occupancy.”
Ogbonnia further noted that any person who knows Lagos would agree with the Igbo leader that some of the Igbo properties were standing on what used to be swamps. He added that Iwuanyanwu used the press conference to condemn the demolition of properties by the authorities of Lagos State, most of which are owned by the Igbo.
He described the unsolicited support to the policies and programmes of the Lagos State Government by Chief George as both curious and misdirected, wondering why an elder statesman in the mold of George would query an ethnic group for their loyalty, allegiance, commitment and development of the former capital of Nigeria.
“The George theory will also query why other Nigerians are obligated to the development of Abuja to give it the required international status. For George to suggest that the Igbo erred by contributing to the development of Lagos is not only unstatesmanly, bigoted, narrow-thinking and self-serving, but also stands at variance with the ethics and decorum of a man who has benefited immensely from the corporate existence of Nigeria.
“George alluded to the prevailing pervasive poverty in the country and in his judgment, believes that destruction of peoples’ property in Lagos is an antidote to poverty.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo has watched with dismay, the selective vocality of Chief George when many parts of the Alaba International Market were destroyed, George was mute. When there was intimidation of voters in Lagos State, George was mute, among several others.
“The Igbo will remain broad-minded, hardworking, law-abiding, forward-looking, dynamic and courageous, even in the face of daunting challenges,” he submitted.