Pan-Igbo pressure group, the Enugu State Roots Initiative (ESRI) has demanded immediate payment of N500 billion compensation to the people deported to the River Niger Bridge in Onitsha by the Lagos State Government.
Apart from paying the monetary compensation, the body also asked the Lagos state government to provide them with befitting housing accommodation and publicly apologize for denigrating their personal liberty and smearing the sanctity of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
They also called on Ohanaeze Ndigbo, South East Governors Forum, South East caucus in the National Assembly and Igbo professionals and other groups, to speak up in condemnation of the act.
In a statement signed by the National President of the body, Barrister Joni Icheka; Secretary, Mr. Uche Nwegbo and Treasurer, Barrister Emma Nwodo, ESRI maintained that the deportation negates sections 21 (1), 22 (1) and 15 (3) of the Constitution.
They also condemned the Lagos state government for sealing off the property of the former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and frowned at the statements credited to the former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, saying such statements were capable of bringing about ethnic hatred and a breakdown of law and order.
“ESRI therefore, demands an immediate payment of the sum of N500 billion compensation to these ill-treated Nigerians, whom the Lagos state government said were Ndi Anambra.
“Apart from paying them the compensation, the state government should also immediately provide them with befitting housing accommodation and publicly apologize for denigrating their personal liberty and smearing the sanctity of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“If the Lagos State Government and their Governor fails to do these things within one month, we will be left with no option than to conclude that it was done with clear negative mind-set and vendetta and we would be left with no option than to take appropriate legal action,” the statement said.
Pointing out that deporting any Nigerian from one part of the country to another negates the constitution of the country, the group described the action as ill-advised and that it exposed the victims to danger and extreme raining season weather.
Said the body: “The Enugu Roots Initiative (ESRI), having watched with studied silence and dismay, the abracadabra and public reactions to the development is compelled to state that Section 41 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution states that: “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom”.
“Similarly, Section 42 (1) states that: “A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:-
(a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or
(b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions.
“Also, the same Constitution in Section 15 (3) stated clearly that: “For the purpose of promoting national integration, it shall be the duty of the state to: ‘(a) provide adequate facilities for and encourage free mobility of people, goods and services throughout the federation; (b) secure full residence rights for every citizen in all parts of the federation.
“The ‘state’ referred to in this section of the constitution is the entire country, Nigeria which includes Lagos and Anambra states. There is no exception to these constitutional injunctions”.
They claimed that the deportees were taken out of Lagos “due primarily to their presumed socio-economic status, religion or tribe, or for whatever reason, could be dubbed as “undesirable elements” in any part of the country and could be so cruelly and inhumanly treated.
“It should be pointed out that the only offence these people committed, according to the Lagos State Government, was that they were “poor”: no more, no less.
“The second offence they may have committed was that they were presumed to be Igbo people, and so, should not be seen begging for arms or engage in any considered “menial activity” in Lagos State.
“But, the questions should be asked: “Does it mean that all Lagos State indigenes resident in every part of the country, especially in Lagos State, are fully and officially employed?
“Do we have persons of the category referred to as destitute Anambra indigenes from other parts of the country that could still be found on the streets of Lagos State even now”?
Insisting that the “Area Boys” who parade the streets of Lagos are worse than the deportees, ESRI said such people are the ones who require urgent rehabilitation since they are indigenes of Lagos State.
Condemning the seal-up of the property of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia state, they said the deportation “is even more provocative when one puts into perspective that notable Igbo personalities, like the former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzo Kalu, who spoke against this despicable deportation in his weekly Leadership Column in the Sun Newspaper, was equally visited with this selective amnesia. His constitutional and rightful liberty to his property was curtailed for several hours by the goons of the Lagos State Government.
“Otherwise, why should the state government surreptitiously rekindle what happened in the 50s and 60s when Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was denied leadership of the Western House of Assembly simply because he was born by parents from the same axis like the people the Lagos State Government ‘deported’?
“It was this same self-righteousness and hatred for Ndi-Igbo that led to the forceful removal of the first Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Eni Njoku in 1965 through acts of “fire-by-force” orchestrated by the defunct Western Regional Government.
“ESRI calls on the Ohaneze Ndigbo, the South East Governors Forum and other notable groups of Igbo extraction, to rise up immediately in condemnation of this inhuman act.
“Similarly, the South East caucus in the National Assembly as well as Igbo professionals, should condemn Lagos State and ‘their Fashola’,” the group stated. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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ESRI has taken another positive step in the rght direction.The action of the lagos state government is as unconstitutional as it is inhuman.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you meant Negative step? Lol(in Zebrudaya's voice). What is the matter with you igbos? This is why FFK is on your case. Any fast avenue to make money, as if it will get to the deportees. Kindly deport any yoruba destitutes in your state and try to develop your states too. No be only 500 Billion, na 500 naira. Jobless people. For your info, I am proudly ibo.
DeletePositive step? You must be one of the deportees. Ole. Thief.
DeleteAn ibo man, avenue to make money no more no less. And can not say the truht am sory for you.see the way he is calling billons.
ReplyDeletelagos na wah1
ReplyDeleteN500B for you or for the destitute? Animals
ReplyDeleteYou people can never learn.
Note nobody carries any thing even money to the grave.
This attitude of money and the Ibos is a big problem for them. Come to think of it how much have they gathered together to assist this mad people called described as destitute? They will never stay in there erosion prone area. Are their no solution to area with erosion. Is it not God's own are? Bull sheet, N500B my ass.
If lagos state govt ask the Igbos to leave, can they leave and go some where else or go home? Is it only lagos they can go to stay and do business, or have they be driving out from their home? If The Igbos are not satisfy with the Lagos state action, then they can also deport the yorubas from the south east. QED.
ReplyDeleteAnd I laugh!!! How much was paid by the administration of FCT when many people were deported from Abuja? How much was the River state Governor himself paid when he deported many individuals from his state. The acts has been happening across the states in Nigeria, but just too funny that people are still ruminating this instead of allowing it to digest. That is Nigeria for you.Ha! Ha!! Ha!!!
ReplyDelete500b or what? Am just smiling. People just speak for talking sake. If given d money 1k will not get to d main people.na wa o o o NDIGBO.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm! Igbooooo Have opened business center on Lagos state government,that's just Igbo problem. They don't think of nothing than money,compound of useless people ,Igbo sell their Dignity easily for money. Am from worri and I prefer Yoruba,Housa or South south to rule this country than Igbo because am afraid Igbo people wil not sell Nigeria as whole if they become president of this Nation.
ReplyDeleteIgbo kuem! Igbo kuem!! Igbo kuem!!! Let us forget this deportation now.Lets develop our states.
ReplyDeleteMy people,just because other States do this does not make it right;Gov Fashola should know better. He is a lawyer & must obey the constitution of Nigeria ;nobody is above the law . Nigeria is a Federal Republic & everybody have the right to stay wherever they choose. Please think of the future of our children.Gov. Fashola needs to appologise to this people. We are one Nigeria. I'm a Nigerian & also Yoruba & i have friends from different parts of the country. God bless.
ReplyDeleteApology my foot? Other states should start deporting destitutes too. To your tent O isreal. Lagos state is not the first to deport and won't be the last. Pls leave Lagos state alone. My candid advise. Ok. Bye.
DeleteAm an ibo man, and sincerely i must say that some ibos are very stupid.. what does he mean by 500billion compensation? this is madness, why must the ibos always see evry issue as an avenue to make money?
ReplyDeleteany way, they are just joking bcos they wont get a dime out of all these bull shit.
You no dey prize something for marker? Make govt dem talk how much dem wan pat na...ah ah
DeleteIF WE ARE ONE NIGERIA, D SO CALLED GOVERNOR SUPPOSED TO KNW THAT WHAT HE DID IS NT GUD.
ReplyDeletelol..this just proves FFK right in some aspects bout ibo peeps...only thinking bout moni to enrich dem selves....see their mouth like 500 billions...lol....(im ibo by the way)
ReplyDeleteNdigbo are funny
ReplyDeleteCompensation for paying their transport back home or for their properties left in Lagos? Igbo govt should take care for its own. Will Fashola see me now and deport me to my state? Na cloth wey you wear go your in-law house go make am tell u to con help am pound yam or fufu. Look at the picture of the ppl shown, u will agree they need assistance. Is it not best that the state govnrs of these ppl render the needed assistance instead of wanting to shift responsibility to Fashola, or put this embarrassing picture in the media for all to see? Ibo man.Chukudi and Emeka would have reasoned 'dis is an avenue to make small money'.500b, wen GEJ no gree give ASSU 100b for Educational development. Kai. real ibo syndrome
ReplyDeleteNo be only N500 billion. They should collect 1 trillion.
ReplyDeleteYeye people.
I will title this "the outragous claim. That is the entre budget of Lagos state for one year. People should decode comedy and laugh instead of ethnicizing it. Please don't say Ndigbo say ESRI or what is their name. Emeka
ReplyDelete500 gini? Haa omo una and ego? Oya come take am now... As if they will give any kobo to real people concerned!!! E ba kigbe ole o...
ReplyDeleteOle, Barao,
ReplyDeleteAfter making them mad for money rituals,they now wanna shift their cross for lagos government to carry.
ReplyDeleteThose of you that are writing nonsense here out of your ignorance and tribalism you will not escape if there is trouble in Nigeria. Have you seen war? Remember those Igbos in Lagos are Biafran soldiers. So, keep your mouths shut. Is it right for Gov Fashola to deport the Igbos from Lagos? Any damages they claim is not too much because Lagos is not another country. Igbos have the right to live anywhere until the Nigerian Constitution is changed.
ReplyDelete