The President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof. George Obiozor, has said that alleged plots by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to attack Lagos was nothing but a rumour aimed at causing disharmony between Igbo and Yoruba people in the state.
Obiozor stated this Thursday when he led the leadership of the apex Igbo sociocultural organisation on a courtesy visit to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Lagos House, Marina.
He emphasised that Igbo people were agents of development and not destruction.
Recall that Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu had on Monday expressed the state command’s readiness to forestall any attack on the state by IPOB.
However, the secessionist group denied planning any attack on Lagos.
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Reacting, Obiozor described Lagos as the second home of Ndigbo, saying that they would not engage in any act capable of jeopardising the peaceful coexistence among various ethnic groups in the state.
“Today, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, in the company of Igbo Elders and Leaders in Lagos, are here to pay you (Governor Sanwo-Olu) a solidarity visit and to further reassure you that Ndigbo are not violent in nature, neither are we known for acts of violence anywhere we live.
“The constant and periodic dangerous insinuations, rumour, gossips and callous statements that Ndigbo in Lagos or any part of Yoruba land contemplate or instigate violence in Lagos or any part of Yoruba land; we wish to state clearly that anywhere this dangerous rumour or statement is emanating from is aimed to cause division, crises and conflict amongst us.
“We think that this rumour is intended to distract the Lagos State Government from its efforts to provide good governance for all and cause disaffection between Ndigbo who live in Lagos and their host community which is the second home of several Ndigbo.
“The quick denial of this rumour by members of IPOB and Yoruba groups in Lagos and across the South West was a source of relief.”
“I am aware that the Government and good people of Lagos State under your able leadership, and through their hospitable gestures, have continually kept the trust and friendship between Ndigbo and our host communities in Lagos State alive.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo through this medium reiterates total support to the state government and the security agencies in their patriotic efforts to keep everyone safe in Lagos and throughout the country. The Igbo nation is renowned for being agents of development, not destruction. Ndigbo are builders and their contributions to the development of Lagos State are evident and exemplary,” Obiozor said.
In his reaction, Sanwo-Olu assured the leaders of Ohanaeze that he would continue to be the governor of all residents of the state irrespective of ethnicity.
He said that he had no doubt that Ndigbo are great people, stating that his administration would continue to engender harmonious relationships between the various ethnic groups represented in the state.