By Alex Ogbonnia
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has received reports from our Lagos State Chapter that the Akere spareparts market, Lagos, has been set on fire with goods worth billions of naira . The report also revealed that a 65 year old security man was shot dead before the inferno.
The spare parts market is an Igbo dominated market. This report is in consonance with the various threats issued by both the lowly and barbaric hoodlums before the general elections that a vote against the APC will incur wrath.
It is very regrettable that while the several eminent conscientious amongst the Yoruba are lending noble hands for a better Nigeria, some miscreants and hoodlums are busy destroying the invaluable cordial relationship between the Igbo and the Yoruba. It is a common knowledge that the voting on February 25, 2023 was very blind to ethnicity.
What the oppressed and the dispossessed masses expressed was a desire to create a new Nigeria through Mr. Peter Obi. It goes without saying that it requires an exceptional audacious and capacious un-Nigerian Nigerian to pull Nigeria out of the woods. Anyone who has watched Peter Obi closely since 40 years ago will discern that Obi is specially sent from heaven to redeem Nigeria from its down-ward spiral.
But, by the way, the presidential candidate of the APC in the last election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also enjoyed a good Igbo supporters in Lagos. Why all these these? The Igbo persecutions are not likely to stop the Igbo entrepreneurship, cosmopolitanism and resilience.
The Igbo are found everywhere to be hardworking. They strive to cooperate with and add vital infrastructural values to the host community. This is the ideal, worthy of emulation.
It must also be pointed out that before the general election, various ethnic cultural groups, such as the Afenifere, an umbrella socio-cultural organisation for the Yoruba; the PANDEF, the Middle Belt, Arewa groups, etc were in the forefront of the Obi-Datti movement and thousands of Yoruba youths were deeply committed to the cause.
Based on the foregoing, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide restrains from viewing the barbaric attack on Igbo traders with an ethnic stereotype; rather all men of goodwill are enjoined to rise in one voice to condemn the primitive and primordial display of vile and hate against the Igbo.
Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia is National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide
