South Easterners living in Lagos have been warned
that anyone that fails to vote for the governorship
candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),
Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, would perish in the lagoon.
This warning was handed down by the Oba of
Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu.
The traditional ruler strongly warned that if they
repeat what they did on March 28 when they voted
for the presidential candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), President Goodluck
Jonathan, then they should be ready to dance to the
tune of his flute.
There are strong indications that Igbos residents in
Lagos will vote for the PDP candidate, Jimi Agbaje,
just like they did during the presidential and National
Assembly elections that led to the victory of PDP
candidates of Igbo origin and from Delta State in
three federal constituencies in Lagos.
The leadership of the APC is still livid over this
development.
Freedom Online reports that the monarch sounded
this warning during a meeting with some Igbo
leaders in Lagos recently.
He was quoted as saying, “On Saturday, if anyone of
you goes against Ambode, who I picked, that is your
end. If it doesn’t happen within seven days, just
know that I am a bastard and it is not my father
who gave birth to me.
“Jonathan is my son and I speak to him everyday.
By the grace of God, I am the owner of Lagos for the
time being. This is an undivided chair. The palace
belongs to the dead and those coming in the future.
“On Saturday, if anyone of you, I swear in the name
of God, goes against my wish that Ambode will be
the next governor of Lagos State, the person is
going to die inside this water.
“I’m not ready to beg you. Nobody knew how I
picked Ambode. Jimi (Agbaje) is my blood relation
and I told him that he cannot be governor in Lagos
for now. The future belongs to God. I am not
begging anybody, but what you people cannot do in
Onitsha, Aba or anywhere, don’t do it here.
“If you do what I want, Lagos will continue to be
prosperous for you. If you go against my wish, you
will perish in the water.”
The monarch said anybody against Ambode did not
wish the state well, adding, “I am for the progress,
growth and development of Lagos. Ambode is highly
cerebral, he’s a symbol and he is going to deliver
the message which I, the Oba of Lagos, have said.
And he will govern the state for another eight years.
“He is going on a mission and God will give him the
wisdom and knowledge to fulfill that mission.
Almost a year ago, I declared that Ambode will be
the next governor of Lagos and it will not change.
“From time immemorial, the previous occupiers of
this house will say what they wanted after
consultations with other people. And this hasn’t
changed and it will not change at this time,” he
said.
Speaking further, Oba Akiolu said, “If not for the
appeal from Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) and my highly
respected maternal father, the Awujale of Ijebu-Ode,
all what is happening today is not the cause of the
present government. The man who caused
everything knows himself.”
In his response, the Eze-Ndigbo of Amuwo-Oriade,
Dr. Gordian Dimojiaku, promised Akiolu that the
Igbos in the state would corporate.
“The mistake of last Saturday was caused by
everybody, not only the Igbos. It is not only the
Igbos that were responsible for the votes. But we
have learnt our lesson. Saturday’s election is going
to be a different thing and Ambode is going to win.
“Everybody knows that when you fail the first time,
you cannot afford to fail again. We are going to tell
our people that Ezes from the 20 local governments
and 37 local council development areas are here and
that we have sworn with the Oba that we are going
to make sure that Ambode wins next Saturday’s
election,” he said.