Ohanaeze tells Igbos to remain in Lagos, ignore IPOB advice
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Lagos Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader Solomon Ogbonna has urged Igbos to ignore the advice for them to travel back to the South East to be counted in their home states in the national census beginning on May 3.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had counselled that “the mass return of our people during this forthcoming population census will help us quantify the population of Biafrans in Nigeria.
“They have always told the world that we are a dot with an insignificant population. Now is the time to let the world know the population of Biafrans in Nigeria as Biafran agitation is gathering international attention and speed.”
But Ogbonna insisted voices urging Igbos to leave for the South East for the census do not speak for the ethnic group.
“I think those who want to travel to the East have no base in Lagos. I can assure you that most of us that have a base in Lagos believe that Lagos is our second home,” Ogbonna said.
“Those who are saying that on social media have a different agenda and are not the voice of Ndigbo. I’m the authentic president of Ndigbo in Lagos State. So, whatever I say is what the whole Igbo residing in Lagos will work according to, with the belief that it is the voice of Ndigbo.
“You can pick anything from social media, anybody can come out tomorrow and tell you that Lagos has turned to Ogun State, but that does not mean that what the person is saying is the truth.”
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Igbo remain Igbo, regardless of location
Ogbonna said regardless of where an Igbo man is counted in the census, his identity and name would always point out his origin, which is the South East, per The PUNCH.
“I advise them to stay in Lagos, which is the home of everybody but there are owners of the land. When you talk of owners of the land, I do tell my people that no matter what you have achieved in Lagos, you came with nothing and you achieved what you never expected to achieve and got to where you never expected to get.
“You should obey rules of the land that gave you such achievement. A lot of people in Nigeria sold their father’s property, travelled abroad and came back empty-handed. But a lot of us came with nothing but go home with a lot. So, we should stay here and see it as our second home but not owners of the land.”
The National Population Census (NPC) has also advised citizens living far away from their states of origin not to travel home for the head count.