Peter Obi: Ohanaeze Reacts To Burning Of Shops Owned By Igbo In Lagos

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has condemned the burning of the spare parts market at Kirikiri road Ajegunle, Ajeromi Ifelodun, in Lagos, by unknown arsonists.

Naija News reports that suspected hoodlums at the wee hours of Wednesday 8th, March 2023, attacked the spare parts market, which is mostly dominated by the Igbos.

The incident is coming days after some politicians in Lagos State alleged that Igbos plan to take over Lagos through the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

Reacting to the development, the national publicity secretary, Alex Ogbonnia on Thursday said ‘the spare parts market is an Igbo dominated market’.

Ogbonnia noted that, contrary to the narrative perpetrated against the igbos about the circumstances that led to the voting on the  presidential election in Lagos, the masses expressed their desire for a new Nigeria through Peter Obi, adding that the igbos should not be punished because of it.

Dr Ogbonnia said, “This report is in consonance with the various threats issued by both the lowly and barbaric hoodlums before the general elections that a vote against the APC will incur wrath.

“It is very regrettable that while the several eminent conscientious amongst the Yoruba are lending noble hands for a better Nigeria, some miscreants and hoodlums are busy destroying the invaluable cordial relationship between the Igbo and the Yoruba.

“It is a common knowledge that the voting on February 25, 2023 was very blind to ethnicity. What the oppressed and the dispossessed masses expressed was a desire to create a new Nigeria through Mr Peter Obi. () ”

Ohanaeze cautioned any attacks on the Igbo over the Feb 25th presidential election outcomes, adding that, “The presidential candidate of the APC in the last election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also enjoyed good Igbo supporters in Lagos and beyond. Why all these these?

“The Igbo persecutions are not likely to stop the Igbo entrepreneurship, cosmopolitanism and resilience. The Igbo are found everywhere to be hardworking. They strive to cooperate with and add vital infrastructural values to the host community. This is the ideal, worthy of emulation.

“It must also be pointed out that before the general election, various ethnic cultural groups such as the Afenifere, an umbrella socio cultural organisation for the Yoruba; the PANDEF, the Middle Belt, Arewa groups, etc were in the forefront of the Obi-Datti movement and thousands of Yoruba youths were deeply committed to the cause.

“Based on the foregoing, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide restrains from viewing the attack on Igbo traders with an ethnic stereotype; rather all men of goodwill are enjoined to rise in one voice to condemn the primitive and primordial display of vile and hate against the Igbo before the election.”