The whole ethnicity slurs and tribal discriminations are so unnecessary; these verbal and physical attacks by some Yorubas against the Igbos residing in Lagos state are totally uncalled for.
An Igbo man residing in Lagos should not be disenfranchised or discriminated against simply because of his tribe. A Nigerian has the right to reside and live peacefully in any part of Nigeria of his choice; this is a constitutionally guaranteed right and anybody or organizations whatsoever that try to take away that right has committed a constitutional crime.
Section 41 of the Constitution aptly provided for this right; “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”.
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Subsequently, S.42 provides that no Nigerian from any part should ever be discriminated against on the ground of his place of origin, tribe, ethnicity or religion.
A Fulani man, a Kanuri woman, or a Gwari lady has the same and an equal right to move and reside anywhere of his choice in any part of Nnewi in Anambra state just like a Nnewi indigene and such right should never be taken away. A Fulani man who can afford to buy or rent a property in Umuahia in Abia state and live peacefully with his family and conduct his legal business has the same right as a Mbasise man.
A man from Abakaliki, Ebonyi state has the right to live and enjoy peaceful cohabitation in Lekki, Festac, Ikeja, or Ikoyi and has every right to rent a shop and trade his business in Computer village, Idumota or carry out his motor spare parts dealership in Ladipo International market just like a Yoruba man from Ile Ife does.
An indigene of Kano who resides in Onueke in Ebonyi state can contest for any elective post in the state and if he is loved by the people and elected he has been given the mandate to rule over the people of Ebonyi state despite the fact that he is not originally an indigene of Ezza, Izzi, Ezzamgbo, Ezeilo or any other clan or tribe in Ebonyi state.
Not until there is a division or legal splitting of the country, every Nigerian despite their origin, tribe or religion can reside in any state and participate in the electoral process of their state of residence. This is not a privilege but a constitutionally provided right.
The new campaign that Igbos in Lagos should go back to the east and that they are not allowed to vote in Lagos state simply because they are not indigenous to Lagos state is unknown to our constitution, hence in breach of our constitutionally provided fundamental human rights and the people championing such campaign should be arrested and prosecuted for the crime of incitement.
Every well-meaning Nigerian must rise to the occasion and condemn these ethnic slurs and tribal discriminations that we witnessed in Lagos state over the past few days by the reason of the election. Nigeria is a very sensitive nation and things like this if not immediately called out can lead to chaos. Other states may decide to retaliate against what has been happening in Lagos state and it will definitely not end well.
I want you to imagine thugs and even national figures in Imo state, asking non-indigenes of Imo state not to vote because they are not indigenes of the state and if they dare to vote thugs will be sent after them. Imagine Sabon Garri residents specifically told not to come out and vote on Election Day in Kano state because a chunk population of the residents there are not indigenes of Kano state. Imagine Gwari indigenes asking Abuja residents who are not indigenous to Gwari not to vote.
Just imagine this scenario that happened in Lagos in the past days happening in the rest of the states of the federation, what will be the fate of the country, I can tell you that it will lead to another civil war and nobody wants that.
The Politicians’ Pettiness
The 2023 general election has to be the most interesting election in the history of the political scene in Nigeria.
The Sanwo Olu (the incumbent governor of Lagos state) recent campaigns have been the ones that captured my attention the most and kept me glued to it. That man is going all out, throwing everything at his re-election ambition; the level of his desperation is quite amusing.
It’s now a popular joke amongst netizens that if you currently reside in Lagos state, there is a high chance that before you would get back home today, Sanwo Olu has prepared you dinner and hot water for you to take your bath. The man has been everywhere and does not fail to take pictures of himself doing those activities and post them.
Last Sunday, Sanwo Olu was seen acting as an usher and greeter in Harvesters church, Lekki. He waited till after Sunday service and stood by the church exit door where he shook everyone’s hands and thanked them for coming to church and also reminded them that he is one of the aspirants of the Lagos state 2023 gubernatorial election.
The next day Mr Sanwo Olu was in Computer Village, Ikeja repairing people’s phones. The day that follows, the incumbent governor of Lagos State was seen in a car mechanic workshop fixing cars; all these for photo props of course and to endear himself to the mind of the gullible electorate.
Sanwo Olu was as well seen in a hairdressing Salon dressing a lady’s hair, he was subsequently seen on a football field displaying his innate balling skills. If you do not believe me google things like Sanwo Olu in computer village or Sanwo Olu the car mechanic or Sanwo Olu the hairdresser etc and you will be amazed. He even does share some of the pictures taken from his tomfoolery activities proudly on his personal social media handles.
The disadvantage of this is that it has exposed how desperate he is to get re-elected back to power; his desperation for power but If and when he gets re-elected he will disappear and become inaccessible again.
This is the modus operandi of an average Nigerian politician. They get to act nice and accessible during campaigns to get elected or re-elected, once they succeed they disappear only to reappear again in four years.
Politicians should know that the surest path to getting yourself back into office is to perform aggressively the first time you were elected. If you do, your work will speak for you and you will save yourself from the pettiness and embarrassment Mr Sanwo Olu is currently displaying now just to secure his second-term ticket. His recent activities only show that he did nothing in his first four years in which he could have stood on top and campaigned and boldly tell the electorates, “elect me so I can do more”.
It is no longer the game as it used to be in the Nigerian political scene and politicians should sit up and stop the tomfoolery that they are used to playing if not they will be sieved out of the game.