A Lagos-based lawyer and industrialist Chukwudi Atueyi, who was one of those who participated in the meeting between Igbo leaders and the Oba of Lagos state, Rilwan Akiolu, has explained what really happened.
Speaking to Vanguard, Chukwudi said the Oba was only joking when he made the threat to Igbos living in Lagos.
Oba Akiolu’s statement has generated a lot of controversy. He had threatened Igbos resident in the mega city to vote for Akinwumi Ambode, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the upcoming governorship elections this Saturday or risk being thrown in the Lagos lagoon.
According to him, none of the persons present at the meeting took offence when the Oba made the statement as it was not directed at the whole of the Igbos in Lagos but jocularly to his Igbo friends who had visited him.
Chukwudi said: “the Eze Ndi Igbo honorary in Lagos went to pay HRM solidarity visit on Sunday and I was fortunate to be among those present at the said meeting. What the Oba said was fully and simply directed to only the Igbos present at the meeting who his majesty considers to be very close to him and should understand him well enough.
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“You know when one talks to his very close friends and subjects, he tends to be very free with them, so he was being very free with those present at the meeting and wanted us to realize how serious and close he takes us and our votes, because he cannot imagine us giving him our words only to turn back and do the very opposite.
“He did not force us to the meeting, we were the ones that went to him on solidarity visit, so it would be very evil of us to only go and deceive him there. He only jokingly (at least as it appeared to me then) warned the people present at the meeting who he considers his own people.
“He was only addressing the Igbos with him present there whom he considers his own people and he simply observed his culture which we all quite understood and this explains why there was applause and laughter at the end of his speech. We were expected to, thereafter, talk to our people in civilized manner to convince them and canvass for their votes if we truly believe we are capable of doing so.
He explained that though the Oba appeared serious, those present at the meeting understood he was joking and that is why they applauded him and made fun of it there.
“So I suspect serious politics at play here. I wouldn’t know who recorded the speech and decided to play politics with it. It is most unfair to his majesty to be portrayed in this manner and I think I owe it as a duty to speak up before things get out of hand.’’
Oba Akiolu’s threat to the Igbos in Lagos has been a hot topic of discussion. Some Nigerians have lashed out at him, some have defended him and others have begged for forgiveness on his behalf.
Some of the Igbos in Lagos in reaction to the Oba’s recent threat, have promised not to vote for Ambodein the forthcoming Saturday election, daring Akiolu to go ahead with his threat.
Yoruba monarchs have begged Igbo residents in Lagos to forgive Oba Akiolu.
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