Oba Of Lagos And The Lagoon, By Okafor C. Udoka

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The experienced ones would tell you: "never believe any trending news on social media until it is confirmed by traditional media outfits." And that guarded my position when snippets frittered on social media on last Easter Sunday that Oba Rilwan Akiolu is intimidating and threatening Igbo people living in Lagos to vote Akinwumi Ambode of APC next Saturday's guber race or get ready to be thrown into the "lagoon."
 
Even when major newspapers carried the news piece of the Oba's threat on Easter Monday, I elected to dismiss it because  all the newspapers were quoting a secondary source- Freedom Online. As a researcher, I was taught to deal with secondary sources of information with great caution and interrogation. 
 
But when the Oba's palace issued a watery "clarification" on what actually happened in the courtesy call "Eze ndigbo" in Lagos paid the Oba, I saw a "clarification" that was not only self-indicting but xenophobic, pedestrian, inciting and grossly anti-Nigeria.  
 
It was only a matter of hours before social media was agog with the video clips and voice recording of Akiolu's address on that black day. The fact is that I shuddered as I watched a former Police chief commit the worst faux pas which is entirely hateful, condemnable and unfortunate. 
 
It was an unfortunate speech because by tradition, convention and law, traditional rulers are politically neutral; they treat all politicians with the same fatherly affection. And most importantly, they are saddled with the onerous task of promoting peaceful and healthful interaction and relationship amongst all people domicile in their kingdom of watch. 
 
Luckily, many Yoruba people came out boldly to condemn the  rantings of the Oba noting that he speaks not for them and gave assurances that every Nigerian is at liberty to vote into power any political party that would rapidly advance Lagos socio-economically and politically. 
 
In a way, Akiolu deserves our sympathy and support at the moment. It is possible that the man has lost his sense of decency and unmindful of the import of his threat and even the history of Lagos as the melting point of Nigeria. One day, we shall have the opportunity to intellectually magnify the place of Lagos as the  pride of the Nigerian nation and possibly trace its evolution vis a vis its early settlers like the Aworis, Oshodi Tapas, Idumotas and Idumagbons of Benin, Aro warriors, etc. 
 
However, what is certain at the moment is that it is not in the character of Yorubas to be hostile to visitors and threaten them with violence and death. Indeed such a threat from an Oba would have spurred an "Afonja" to send him an empty calabash in the past. 
 
What is however funny in all these is that Jimi Agbaje who Akiolu opposes his candidacy is a Yoruba, not Igbo. But I guess the affinity a typical Igbo man shares with PDP makes its gubernatorial candidate fanciful to any Igbo man living outside Igbo speaking states of Nigeria when in reality, Akiolu would want APC to be in-charge in his kingdom.  
 
By and large, since a warning and threat have been issued by Oba of Lagos without any sign of withdrawal or apology, it becomes pertinent for Igbo Lagosians to be conscious of the fact that Agbaje's gubernatorial struggle with Akinwumi is not their fight; it is entirely a Yoruba affair which needs no external intrusion that might end up with the destruction of properties and killing of non-indigenes post-election. 
 
In short, it would be the height of foolhardy if the Igbo Lagosians, and indeed any other non-indigene of Lagos for that matter, allow their heads to be used in breaking Lagos gubernatorial "coconut" which head or tail would be manned by a Yoruba man. However, they must only vote for the candidate who would ensure that there remains a healthy environment for the expansion of wealth and job creation in a state nobody would be "deported" to Onitsha headbridge because of his tongue again. 
 
But the points are these: one, Lagos is a cosmopolitan city which attained its glorious heights  through the contributions of Nigerians from all walks of life and tongues. As such a xenophobic oba is too dangerous for its continuous progress, prosperity and expansion. 
 
Two, the Jews control the economy of US and exercise considerable influence on discussions and consultations which produce US President even though they constitute a minute fraction of American population. So, if an Oba is threatening fire and brimstone in a clime a non-indigene is only concerned with casting his/her vote on election day and leaving politics of leadership to indigenes, then that Oba deserves our sympathy and help. 
 
Three, cosmopolitan cities attain enviable heights on the strength of its mixed population, Lagos is no exception. If we celebrate UK for allowing the election of Nigerians into its Parliament as well as the first world countries for allowing Nigerian born mayors-Rotimi Adebari (Ireland), Adedamola Aminu (UK), Emmanuel Onunwa (US), Kate Anolue (UK), etc- to lead them, would we not be shooting on the fabric of our nationhood if we oppose the election of non-indigenes to represent Lagos in the House of Representatives? Lest we forget, the great Ebube Dike, Ernest Ikoli and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe won elections to represent Lagos in the Western House of Assembly in 1950s. And in 2015, we are opposing the participation of non-indigenes in Lagos politics, are we progressing or retrogressing?
 
Four, from Akiolu's outburst, it is understandable that Igbo Lagosians constitute a major voting bloc in Lagos. But in situations like this, persuasion, negotiations and consultations are called into use in a deft political move to net their votes in elections, not threats. 
 
Five, one thing anybody who has interacted with an Igbo man any where in the world can readily tell you is this: Igbo people do not capitulate to threat but they see it as a challenge to excel. They dared hunger and annihilation in the 1960s; so, there is nothing in sight which suggests they would heed the "vote for Ambode or die" threat of Akiolu. My worry is that the crass statement of Akiolu might leave a dirty blow on Ambode's candidacy as the guber election draws near. 
 
Six, it is high time this obnoxious practice of "Eze ndigbo" in diaspora is abolished; methinks Ohaneze ndigbo had banned the use of that word "Eze ndigbo" and renamed them Onye ndu Ndigbo (Leader of Ndigbo) in the early 2000s. How they stubbornly reverted to "Eze ndigbo" beats me hollow: c an someone be a king in another person's kingdom? 
 
Beyond that no Igbo traditional ruler or full fledged Igbo man would sit down and have Akiolu threaten him and his people without stern resistance or walk out. 
 
Unfortunately, the fact is that the likes of Akiolu are deliberately making our journey to nationhood tortuous by their conducts, approach and words; they keep reminding us of our differences and incite hate amongst us while they should be promoting our strength and beauty in diversity.  
 
But if we keep soldiering on the crest that great nations of the world had had to manage the Akiolus before greatness came knocking on their doors, we must pick up the drive necessary to keep us going until a new, united, progressive and prosperous Nigeria free of retrogressive elements is born.
 
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