April 7, 2015 – Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu who has been under pressure after swearing by his throne that Igbo in Lagos will die if they vote against his choice, Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressive Congress(APC) in the April 11 election has retraced his steps in the face of condemnation from Nigerians including the Catholic Church.
The monarch said in a statement on Monday that Igbo in the state would not be attacked. In a statement signed by Chief Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, the Opeluwa of Lagos the Oba said he didn’t threatened Igbos in Lagos to make them vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.
It will be recalled that the Oba of Lagos had in the full glare of Eze -Ndigbos, Igbo leaders and Newsmen who came to report the outcome of his meeting with Igbo leaders in the state in the build-up to the April 11 gubernatorial polls said, “On Saturday, if any one of you goes against Ambode who I picked, that is your end. If it doesn’t happen within seven days, just know that I am a bastard and it is not my father who gave birth to me.
“By the grace of God, I am the owner of Lagos for the time being. This is an undivided chair. The palace belongs to the dead and those coming in the future. On Saturday, if anyone of you, I swear in the name of God, goes against my wish that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos state, the person is going to die inside this water.
“For the Igbos and others in Lagos, they should go where the Oba of Lagos head to. When they were coming to the state, they didn’t come with all their houses. But now they have properties in the state. So they must do my bidding. And that is the bidding of the ancestors of Lagos and God.
“I am not ready to beg you. Nobody knew how I picked Ambode. Jimi is my blood relation and I told him that he can never be governor in Lagos for now. The future belongs to God. I am not begging anybody, but what you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere you cannot do it here.
“If you do what I want, Lagos will continue to be prosperous for you, if you go against my wish, you will perish in the water.”
But the statement explained that the Obas had called on the Igbos chiefs to show appreciation to Lagos State by supporting his candidate Ambode for continuity of excellence as they have earlier promised.
The statement made available to Journalists reads in part,” It was noted that whoever works against the throne and the interest and peaceful co-existence of Lagos would end up in the lagoon as per tradition.
“Oba Akiolu stated further that the Igbo people have not betrayed the throne. Lagos has also not betrayed the Igbo people.
” Lagos has done so much to make the Igbos comfortable and to prosper. For this, we expect reciprocal respect and understanding. The Oba of Lagos prays that the Lagoon and the throne will continue to bless and protect all those who reside and visit Lagos.
“Oba Akiolu is the father of all irrespective of tribe, religion or political persuasion. In Lagos, we have an old traditional proverb that relates to the Lagoon. The Lagoon is unique to Lagos. The proverb stresses the need for unity and understanding when you do business in an environment and in this case when you live and do business in Lagos.
“Oba Akiolu prays for peace for the land of Lagos and prosperity for all its inhabitants.”
The statement further added that ,”At the meeting the visitors praised the Oba for his fatherly support for and cooperation with Igbos in. Lagos. They assured him of their continued good neighborliness with other tribes in Lagos and support everything that’ll further strengthen that harmony.
“Oba Akiolu on his part acknowledged the enviable performance of Governor Fashola and his contribution to the growth of investments in Lagos. He gave the assurance that he is not disturbed or angry with South-East and South- South votes for President Jonathan as perceived by the Eze Ndigbos.
“He assured them of his continued support and assistance where needed and the meeting ended with the traditional breaking of kolas, alligator pepper, and bitter kola and pouring of liberation on the ground. It was within this context that that the tradition of Lagos with regard to the lagoon came up.”
