Babatunde
Fashola (SAN), the Governor of Lagos State, has made a frank public
apology and offered an explanation for the recent situation with
"deportation of Igbos" to Onitsha, Anambra State.
The
Lagos state government was involved in a major controversy in July,
2013, having deported 70 destitutes at Onitsha Bridge. Although the
officials later clarified that the people were relocated after being
rehabilitated, Igbo people felt they were threated inappropriately, and
were hated.
On
July 24, the evictees were, under the cover of darkness, dumped at
Upper Iweka, Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra State. This action
had provoked a passionate quarrel between the two states.
Speaking
at the 25th anniversary of the Igbo socio-cultural think tank, Aka
Ikenga (the event was held at the Nigerian Institute of International
Affairs, Victoria Island), Fashola assured he had absolutely no problem
with Igbos.
He
thanked the gathering for honouring his late father, and said he owes
an explanation to those who don't understand the true purpose of actions
and meaning of words.
"I
cannot take the Igbos for granted because we have built a relationship
based on tolerance, mutual respect, love and trust. That relationship
was built by our ancestors, and I put a lot of value in that
relationship.
"I offer an unreserved apology if the actions taken had been misunderstood.
"But
I think the basic issue Aka Ikenga must address is, why people feel
compelled to immigrate from one part of the country to the other? Is it
the case that some lack the resources to develop or perhaps some parts
are endowed with enormous resources but not adequately managed?
"How
can development be so difficult from the zone that has produced people
like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alex Ekwueme, Ike Nwachukwu, among others?
"As
political storm gathers, there are contact spots, but, like in
football, contact spots have rules. Those who are victims of our
shortcomings as professionals, in and out of government, should not be
pounced.
"A
day like this calls for deep reflection about issues of our loyalties.
Are we more Igbo than Nigeria, or we are more Nigeria than Igbo?" he
asked rhetorically.
Many officials and Nollywood celebrities were present at the event.
Source: The Nation
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