Victor EzejaCultural Credibility Development Initiative (CCDI), a socio-cultural and political group, has raised the alarm about potential violence targeted at Igbo people in Lagos by the use of misinformation and hate messages over issues of the ongoing 2023 general elections.
The group noted with concern that the “disinformation and misinformation” being allegedly spread by political elites is already causing tension and setting the indigenous people of the state against the Igbos.
President General of CCDI, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, in a statement he personally signed and released on Sunday, 12th March, said that since the result of the presidential election was released there have been allegations against Igbo people that they want to take over Lagos, and for that reason, want to elect the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivor.
He noted that such allegations by the conspirators are aimed at causing a crisis targeted at the Igbo people.
There have been some allegations circulating on social media that Rhodes-Vivors is not an indigene of Lagos but an Igbo man. The LP governorship candidate, however, has responded to that by giving a detailed explanation of his ancestry to prove that he is a real Lagosian. He said that his only connection with Igbo land is that his mother is from there and he also married from the tribe.
“Credibility Group, a think tank, has noted with alarm the frenzy caused by the disinformation and misinformation cascading from supposedly enlightened people to the rank and file in Lagos. This premeditated devil’s master plan, which is aimed at causing a violent crisis, is targeted at the Igbo people in Lagos.
“On a daily basis, all kinds of allegations are disseminated with vigour.
“Since the release of the presidential election results, Igbo people have become objects of conspiracy theories. The most heinous currently trending is that Igbo people want to take over Lagos. This is designed to turn a charged situation into a frenzied mob action. The much-touted reason is that Igbo people want to elect Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivor,” part of the statement read.
The Credibility group’s President in the statement warned propagators of the anti-Igbo hate messages to desist forthwith, adding that all the leading governorship candidates, none of which is an Igbo, have approached Igbo people for support and they have active support groups.
Uwazurike, a senior lawyer, further stated that Igbo people living in Lagos came just like people from other states and acquired properties with their money which is a constitutional right of every Nigerian irrespective of their state of origin.
He also said that Nigerians have the constitutional right to vote for whoever they want and should not be coerced into doing otherwise.
“The propagators of the conspiracy theories against Ndigbo are not even Lagosians by birth and cannot point out the graves of their forefathers in Lagos. Further inquiries show that the real Lagosians are very sociable and receptive to increased business activities.
“Igbo people living in Lagos state came to Lagos the same way as those from Kwara, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, Kogi and Oyo states.
“Non-Yoruba people, just like non-Lagos Yoruba people in Lagos buy land for residence. There is no free land. Nobody dashes anyone land in Lagos. Lagos is a cash-and-carry state beginning with rent to what and where you eat.
“Property acquisitions are legal and constitutional. This right is for all, notwithstanding the state of origin. Those who are consumed by envy should be advised to desist forthwith.
“There is a freedom of choice of who to vote for. This is constitutional. It must not be tampered with.
“Nigerians have been elected freely in different countries and there is no objection to them. We have also rejoiced over such elections.
“Those who are beating the drums of violence have forgotten that the evil they want to unleash does not discriminate on its target. The market people whose goods were burnt in the Olodi Apapa area are not all Igbo.”
He urged those in authorities, particularly the state governor, commissioners and security agencies to rise up and tackle the pockets of violence and attacks happening in different parts of the state, linked with post-election issues.
He stressed the need for peaceful coexistence, noting that the younger generation does not crave ethnic segregation anymore as they now intermarry.
“Finally, nothing encourages evil doers like the silence of the people in authority. Here, the Governor, the Commissioner of Police and other security outfits have not seen evil and have not heard any evil. Violence and strife multiply in different directions. A stitch in time saves nine.
“There is no family in Lagos today without an Igbo Yoruba marriage. The young ones do not want to practice tribalism. Tribalism is a debilitating disease of older folks. Let our kids be. Violence is an evil wind that bears no one any good,” the CCDI president admonished.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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