Ndigbos Declare Ambode Their Number 1 Enemy

Following the demolition of Oshodi market, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state has been declared the number one enemy of Ndigbo by the apex socio-Igbo cultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Oshodi market which is believed to be largely occupied by Igbos was destroyed on the first week of the New Year.

Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the national president of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) made the declaration alongside Okwu Nnabuike, the national secretary on Monday, January 11, at a press briefing in Enugu, Daily Post reports.

Isiguzoro said Ambode had drawn a battle line between himself and the entire Igbo land by his actions.

While describing the demolition as “an action done in bad faith”, Isiguzoro said the traders were given only a few days quit notice.

He expressed shock that the Lagos state government decided to demolish the market at such a wrong time, making sure that not only their shops were taken from them but their wares were also looted.

The Ndigbos wondered why the Lagos state government would carry out the demolition at a time when it clearly knew that the shop owners were still in their villages for the Christmas and the New Year festivities.

Isiguzoro said: “We are forced to ask: could this be the starting point in implementing Oba of Lagos’s earlier threat during the election period that Ndigbo would be thrown into the Lagoon? Could it be another round of deportation of exercise, similar to what former governor Fashola did? These appear to be so considering that a witch cried in the night and a child died in the morning.

“It is quite inhuman for people’s means of livelihood to be taken away from them in such a manner. The government’s claim that arms were recovered from a section of the market does not fly at all here because it cannot be a reason for such a wicked treatment purely targeted on a particular people.”

The Ndigbos demanded that the traders be adequately compensated, adding that anything short of that, they will henceforth regard the governor as their number one arch-enemy.

The demolition of Oshodi market last week sparked reactions from Lagosians, with some claiming Igbo people were targeted as they owned shops in the demolished market. The Igbo traders alleged that they were been victimised by the Lagos state government because of their tribe.

Reacting to the demolition, some lawmakers of the Lagos House of Representatives said they were in support of the move of the government. A lawmaker, Segun Olulade said the demolition was not done due to any bad intention but to salvage the state from criminal activities.

source:Naij