Ahead of next Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has pledged their support toward the re-election of the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, saying Igbo people living in the state would ensure that the governor is re-elected for another term.
The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State said Igbo people in the state would gladly vote for Sanwo-Olu on 11 March because the governor represents everything Ndigbo needs to prosper and execute their businesses and professional calling.
The leaders of the state chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo gave the assurance on Thursday during a joint press conference held with the leadership of the Yoruba Council Worldwide in Lagos, at Ikeja.
The President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the state, Chief Sunday Osai also distanced the group from the statement credited to one Okechukwu Isiguzoro, calling on Babajide Sanwo-Olu to resign, and inciting the Igbo in Lagos against the Governor; the Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwan Akiolu and others.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo leaders stated that Isiguzoro, who is claiming to be the National Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, was unknown to them and he is not speaking the mind of the Igbo in the state, adding that Isiguzoro has no relationship with Igbo in the state, but wanted to capitalise on current political atmosphere to score a cheap political point by instigating violence.
The Lagos Ohanaeze Ndigbo President, who described Sanwo-Olu as friendly, peace-loving and accommodating, sued for a continued cordial relationship between the Governor, Lagos residents, and Ndigbo.
The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, who commended Sanwo-Olu leadership style and Yoruba in the state for making them feel at home, promised to reciprocate the kind gesture of the governor and his people by voting massively to secure Sanwo-Olu’s re-election bid.
Osai said: “As the President of the Lagos State Ohanaeze, I represent the mouthpiece of Ndigbo in Lagos and I hereby debunk the so-called Ohanaeze Ndigbo asking Governor Sanwo-Olu to resign.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu is a friendly governor to the Ndigbo, hence a very cordial relationship has existed between Ohanaeze and Governor Sanwo-Olu. If Ndigbo is rooting for anybody to become a governor of Lagos State; that person is Sanwo-Olu because of the cordial relationship that we have enjoyed together.
“Sanwo-Olu represents everything that Ndigbo needs to prosper and he has been very kind and implemented friendly policies that enable us to execute our businesses and professional calling without fear or favour. So, why should we tell him to resign? Even if the constitution permits a third term, Ndigbo will accept Governor Sanwo-Olu.
“I thank the Lagos State Governor and I want to let him know that with Ndigbo, he should go and sleep with his two eyes closed. Ndigbo will gladly vote for him come 11 March 2023″.
The Woman Leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo in the state, Chief (Mrs) Jane Okoro assured Sanwo-Olu that the entire women structure in the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of the state would be mobilised to support his re-election.
She appealed to women not to allow their children to be used as political thugs in the forthcoming elections.
The President of Yoruba Council Worldwide, Aare Oba Oladotun Hassan appealed to all Igbo people in the state to reach out to their brothers and sisters to disregard all the unfounded allegations against the Governor, saying it is a move to arouse people’s emotional sensibility and political ideology.
“I am appealing to all our wonderful Igbo people in Lagos State, to please ensure and reach out to their beloved brothers and lovely sisters and let them know and confirm to them that all those spurious allegations were nothing but satanic intrigues and orchestrated lies from a pit of hell and that it is just a premeditated antics in futility at casting aspersions against our dear Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and give a dog a bad name in order to hang it”, he said.
