Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George on Wednesday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, to order over what he called the harassment of the Igbos in Lagos.
In a statement Wednesday night, George said the “recent use of thugs, hired urchins and low-lives to harass and unleash mayhem on the people of the South East” allegedly by the agents of Bola Tinubu in Lagos “is reprehensible, condemnable, sickening and very dangerous.”
However, the state APC distanced Tinubu or the party from the alleged attacks, saying anybody accusing Tinubu of unleashing thugs on the Igbos is being economical with the truth.
Daily Trust reports that pockets of skirmishes had been reported in Oshodi and Ojo areas populated by non-indigenes who are of Igbo extraction. They were allegedly attacked for voting against the APC.
The state police command had dismissed the incident, insisting there was no targeted attack on Igbos in Lagos.
But George pointed out that he had been talking to non-indigenes to remain calm over the attacks to avoid a reprisal attack.
He said, “This clearly ill-advised jungle justice on fellow Nigerians whose offense is basically the fact that they voted according to their conscience is capable of provoking a reprisal attack and a greater cataclysm that may graduate into a fury that no one would be able to control.
“Since yesterday, I have been talking to various stakeholders from the South East to be restrained and calm and not to let the unfortunate incident widen into another violent scenario that may consume the nation itself.”
He then appealed to Buhari to call Tinubu to order, saying Lagos is a mini Nigeria and everybody irrespective of his state of origin must be welcome.
“I am appealing to President Buhari to call Bola Tinubu to order lest his reckless penchant of mobilizing thugs against all perceived enemies does not ricochet into the tragedies of 1962 and 1963 which eventually triggered the Nigerian Civil war.
“We welcome everyone with vivid embrace and with sincerity of purpose.
“We are the Nigerian melting pot, encouraging traders and various merchants to bring their gods for sale. We do not discriminate.
“If we had discriminated against Tinubu himself, he could never have risen to the level of relevance which he has achieved today in our Lagos.
“We need peace in Lagos. We do not need hired hands sponsored to disrupt business activities of fellow Nigerians,” George said.
Tinubu’s media aide, Tunde Rahaman is yet to react to Bode George’s allegation when contacted tonight.
But the Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Joe Igbokwe said APC would not have to deploy thuggery to win election in the state, stressing Lagos belongs to APC.
According to him, while the police is investigating the reported attacks, the APC has not hired or sponsored anybody to attack the Igbos.
“I am an Igbo man and I belong to APC and millions of Igbos are in APC and we believe we would win the incoming governorship election. So PDP should not think they want to capitalize on this for votes”, he said.
