Adebanjo said there is no war between the Yoruba and Igbo, and that whatever appears to be tension between the two ethnic groups, was the handiwork of some political rascals.
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Leader of Afenifere, the apex Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, has dismissed the treason allegation levelled against the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, by Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Mohammed had during a tour of news organisations in the United States accused Peter Obi and his running mate in the February 25 presidential election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, of treason.
But Adebanjo, while receiving a delegation of the Lagos chapter of Anya-Ndi-Igbo, a non-partisan, socio-political and economic development-oriented organization, committed to equity, peace, unity, justice and progress of Nigeria, at his residence on Monday, wondered why Lai Mohammed kept quiet when the head of Lagos State Motor Parks and Garages, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, incited attacks against the Ndigbo in Lagos.
“Where was Lai Mohammed when Oluomo was saying the Igbos shouldn’t come out to vote,” Adebanjo queried.
“All the time they were killing people because of the election, Lai Mohammed kept quiet,” he said.
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Adebanjo added that there is no war between the Yoruba and Igbo, and that whatever appears to be tension between the two ethnic groups, was the handiwork of some political rascals.
He said: “Oluomo and all those who sponsor him, including those chiefs who were declaring Oro on Election Day, they are the political rascals.
“Since when have we been doing Oro on Election Day?” he asked.
Adebanjo cautioned those propagating that Ndigbo are in battle with the Yoruba over Lagos to stop such insinuations as both ethnic groups enjoy cordial relationship.
He said: “There is this insinuation that the Igbo are in battle with the Yoruba to take over Lagos. Nobody should succumb to this dangerous propaganda to sow seed of discord between us.
“We have had cordial relationship with the Igbo over the years and we are not having problems with them. Those trying to sow disunity must be careful.”
Dr. Uma Eleazu, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Anya-Ndi-Igbo who led the delegation to Adebanjo, also said there is no battle between the Yoruba and Ndigbo as being insinuated in sections of the press and social media.
Elder Eleazu noted that mischief makers who he described them as “little foxes that destroy the garden of relationship” are propagating such insinuation.
He said those stoking embers of discord were doing great disservice to the unity of the two regions that have had cordial relationship over the years.
Eleazu said: “Anya-Ndi-Igbo, Lagos comprising leaders of various Igbo Associations and Igbo Town Unions in Lagos, today paid a courtesy visit to Chief Ayo Adebanjo in his capacity as the leader of Afenifere to express our solidarity with his (Afenifere) stand on various national issues of mutual interest to the Yoruba and Igbo nations, and to plead with our Yoruba brothers and sisters not to succumb to the insinuations in sections of the press and social media that there is a battle for Lagos between Ndigbo and the Yoruba.
“There is no such battle. None. Zero.
“However, we have witnessed the activities of the little foxes that destroy the garden of our relationship. They are acting out the template of their masters. And we want all people of goodwill to do all they can to rein in such deviant behaviour before it gets out of hand.”
