From CHARLES ONYEKWERE
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has implored Igbos resident in Lagos State to remain neutral over the leadership crisis rocking the House of Assembly.
A statement issued on Wednesday by its factional Deputy President-General, Okechukwu lsigozoro, stated that the contest for power was not merely a local affair, but imbued with the potential for collateral damage, particularly to the interests and well-being of Igbos in the state who had borne the brunt of various political machinations.
Ohanaeze cautioned that the persistent persecution and systematic dismantling of Igbo-owned markets and properties in Lagos, which had prevailed since 2023, were manifestations of a broader political strategy aimed directly at alienating them.
The organisation disclosed that information at its disposal indicated attempts to co-opt Igbo communities into supporting one faction against the other in the ongoing struggle over the speakership of the House of Assembly.
It said this strategy was fraught with peril and sought to exacerbate ethnic divisions, merely repackaging a historical crisis that, if repeated, could lead to dire consequences for all involved, including the Igbo populace.
“It is crucial to recognise that entangling ourselves in these factions risk transforming our communities into scapegoats and sacrificial lambs in a power struggle that is neither our battle nor our burden to bear.
“We call on participants engaging in these maneuvers to reflect on the lessons of the past. The political discord of 1961-1965, which culminated in severe unrest and chaos, serves as a historical admonition for us today.
“We must collectively resist the temptation to descend into a cycle of violence and reprisal reminiscent of the wild, wild West, in which political ambitions took precedence over communal harmony.
“In this context, Ohanaeze Ndigbo avers that the sanctity of Nigeria’s democratic framework is under significant threat. We urge all citizens, particularly those invested in democratic ideals, to ensure that the development surrounding the Lagos speakership crisis do not devolve into the catastrophic failures witnessed in previous decades,” the statement said.
