Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Friday received in audience a leading Igbo socio-political group, ‘Aka Ikenga”debunking the suggestions of discrimination, deportation or violation of rights against Anambra citizens.
Governor Fashola, who addressed the group, led by its President, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, said there was no truth in the allegation or suggestion of deportation, discrimination or violation of rights of Anambra indigenes by the Lagos State Government as alleged by the Anambra State Government.
“I want to use this opportunity to say that none of these suggestions of discrimination or violation of rights is true. I don’t know how I could set out to deport Anambrarians and look Ben (AkabuezeCommissioner for Budget and Economic Planning) in the eye; because that is his state and he is a member of this government and there are no decisions that we take in private that are not discussed extensively and if there are very sensitive issues there, his advice has been very useful”, the governor said.
According to the governor, “These issues have been raised in a politically coloured atmosphere and in a way that seeks to incite our Igbo brothers against their host communities in the run up to the Anambra governorship election”.
He added, “The impression sought to be created is that Lagos has adopted a discriminatory policy against the Ndigbo generally and against the Anambra people in particular”.
He also debunked the suggestion that there were 72 Anambra persons involved in the alleged deportation pointing out that there were only 14 persons who were taken home to Onitsha at their own request after they were rehabilitated at the state’s rehabilitation centre at Majidun.
He declared, “I think that there are facts which have been over-exaggerated and distorted and I want to address those facts. The fact was that 14 people, not 70, not 72, not 67, as were being reported, were picked up on our streets as part of a routine exercise and we took them to Majidun Rehabilitation Centre, not a detention camp as has been published and you can go there and see”.
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@EL metosky and his cohorts, I hope you heard the governor clearing the air on the alleged deportation of Igbos from Lagos state because you are worthy of saying rubbish against other tribes.
ReplyDeleteHow many other tribes are in your state cabinet as it is in Lagos state where an Igbo man is made a commissioner of a lucrative and sensitive position like the ministry of Commerce and Industry?
We have no other country but Nigeria. They don’t like us outside Nigeria and we are unable to practice love among ourselves. We should change our orientations hence; it is advisable we get information thoroughly filtered before making noise.
El metasoky take note.
Investigation need to be conducted before making a harmful decision,this exagerrated numbers are not similar,some reporters claim 72,some 70 and some 68,which 1 to believe if not the 14 as claimed by the Lagos Gvt.We shouldnt drive this issue into Political jamboree between Lagos/Anambra Government.
ReplyDeleteThat means the press is another problem in this our country,all the information we got about this issue is from different media publications. We all owe BRF apologies if what he explained here is true. More so there should be a follow up on all media who propagate false information to the masses. But I'll still ask,what of those ones that testified they were picked on their way to their work places or trading points? I think their names were even mentioned. Another question is,were these pple dropped off at upper Iweka,Onitsha at about 3am? If so,could there be an explanation for this? Cos I know it's not proper to have left them in such an unsafe place without proper arrangements as to how they'll get to their pple. It will help further if we could be also cleared on these points cos they were part of the info handed down to us by the press.
ReplyDeleteConfusing stuffs here
ReplyDeleteWell, i was really embarrassed when one of my well respected friend raised the alarm on the facebook saying; Yorubas are tribalistic nipping is argument on the whole deportation saga.First I sincerely believed that Lagos State Government is a piece of Liberal Democracy that the Modern world crave to have. Thus, the recent crops of leaders must be appreciated even at this point in time.Besides. it is only in Lagos and Ondo state that a man from outside the state can become commissioner. where else do we have that? So, what are we saying here.
ReplyDeleteSecond, we all know that Lagos as been seen as dumping ground for all kind of nuisance and notorious Human 'beast'/beings. It is the same Administration that put that in history book by clearing the street and making it safe for good and well meaning Nigerian. I think it is a good gesture to make the environment safe for good people and if any tribe be it Igbo or Yoruba is involved, the matter should be treated the same. Why then are people pointing fingers. On this note, let Anambra state Governor look inward and rehabilitate the nuisance on the street.
On the issue of deportation, how do you expect the government to look for the family of deportees? We used to have deportees from all over the world, how many of the foreign government make effort to contact the family? If Fashola had given prior notice to the Anambra state government, what else do they want? For him to be doing house to house check? I mean that is outrageous. Please, let call a spade spade. Let other state emulate Lagos state spirit of through Democracy and stop making a mountain of morsel.
I am not a Lagosian, I am not leaving in lagos but I join well meaning Lagosian to say, Eko O ni Baje!
Ayedero Martins
As far as i am concerned every Nigerian has the right to live anywhere he so chooses anywhere in the country as long as he is a Nigerian( the constitution provides for this) so nobody has the right to deport or rather relocate anybody against their wishes. If you think they are guilty of any crime then charge them to court. For me Brt is wrong regardless of whether or not he notified the Anambra state government.If it was the Federal govt that did this we would not hear the last of it from the opposition parties and thus much noise needs to made about this issue and if necessary court action taken so that we can nip this undemocratic action in the bud. For all of you that are talking from an ethnic point of view or from a politically biased point of view; remember that it could quite easily be you or any member of your family being deported from one nigerian state to the other. As for the media all i have to say is that you guys are supposed to be the fourth arm(estate) of the realm and you seem not to realise your role for you guys time and time again have proven to be even more corrupt than the politicians. What ever happened to investigative journalism whereby you would verify the actual number of those dumped in Anambra and even seek them out for interviews so that we can all know the truth. I guess some have received brown envelopes and are turning their backs on the actual story as it stands.
ReplyDelete