The Council of Elders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to bring to book all those who played roles in the alleged destruction of properties belonging to persons of Igbo extraction in Lagos State.
The Council said the events being experienced were similar to what triggered the 30-month civil war that claimed the lives of millions of Nigerians.
The elders, in a communique issued at the end of its emergency virtual meeting held on Wednesday, which was made available to this newspaper, had in attendance members from Nigeria, the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), Italy and other parts of the world.
The communique was signed by the Chairman, Council of Elders in Nigeria, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Secretary-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide; Ambassador Okey Emuchay; Chief Simon Okeke, Nigeria; Elder Adolphus Umunnakwe Agbasonu, Europe; Mazi Ignatius Muotoh, Europe; Prof. Godfrey Ajoku, USA; Chief Kingsley Obaji, USA and National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Alex Ogbonnia.
The communique reads in part: “In the recent events, the Igbo were attacked during the Lagos governorship election for voting for political parties of their choice in an election which featured only Yoruba candidates.
“All the candidates for the election in Lagos State were Lagosians or Yoruba. It is therefore strange, unjust and inconceivable to profile the Igbo and their assets for destruction because they exercised their franchise in favour of the Yoruba candidates.”
The council, therefore, resolved to take the following actions: “To formally petition the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in order to express our sadness and disappointment over this unfortunate development. We also intend to send a protest letter to the National Assembly and other relevant agencies, to express our feelings.
“High-powered Igbo delegation will be sent to Lagos, to meet with some leaders of Lagos State in order to establish a lasting cordial and peaceful relationship between the Igbo and the Yoruba in Lagos.
“The Elders have directed the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in association with the Council of Elders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to set up an enquiry to carry out a full investigation into the destruction of properties and assets of Ndigbo in Lagos.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo will ensure that all perpetrators of this criminal activity are brought to book and adequate reparation/ compensations paid to the victims,” it said.
