Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has read the riot act to Igbo leaders and monarchs in Lagos State, warning that he will make life unbearable for them if they sabotage efforts being made to ensure that the governorshipcandidateof (APC) Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, emerges as the next governor of the state.
According to Sun,the monarch, who summoned all the Eze-Ndigbo in the state to his palace(picturedabove),said the support of their kinsmen for the opposition party in the state could frustrate current efforts being made in all quarters to ensure that Lagos was no longer in opposition with the Federal Government.He said:
“On Saturday, if anyone of you goes against Ambode, who I picked, that is your end.
If it does not happen within seven days, just know that I am a bastard and it is not my father who gave birth to me.
“By the grace of God, I am the owner of Lagos for the time being. This is an undivided chair. The palace belongs to the dead and those coming in the future. On Saturday, if anyone of you, I swear in the name of God, goes against my wish that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos State, the person is going to die inside this water.
“For the Igbo and others in Lagos, they should go w
here the Oba of Lagos heads to. When they were coming to the state, they did not come with all their houses. But now, they have properties in the state. So they must do my bidding. And that is the bidding of the ancestors of Lagos and God.“I am not ready to beg you. Nobody knew how I picked Ambode. Jimi is my blood relation and I told him that he could never be governor in Lagos for now. The future belongs to God. I am not begging anybody, but what you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere you cannot do it here.”
Daily independent also reports the Oba said
“He is going on a mission and God will give him the wisdom and knowledge to fulfill that mission. Almost a year ago, I declared that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos and it will not change.
“From time immemorial, the previous occupiers of this house will say what they wanted after consultation with other people. And this hasn’t change and it will not change at this time.”
Responding, Dr. Gordian Dimojiaku the Eze- Ndigbo of Amuwo-Oriade, Lagos said
“The mistake of last Saturday was caused by everybody, not only the Igbo. It is not only the Igbo that were responsible for the votes.
“But we have learnt our lesson. Saturday’s election is going to be a different thing and Ambode is going to win. Everybody knows that when you fail the first time, you cannot afford to fail again. We are going to tell our people that Ezes from the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas are here and that we have sworn with the Oba that we are going to make sure that Ambode wins next Saturday’s election.”
Some of the monarch present were however displeased by the tone of the Oba in conveying his message.