Ndigbo: We’re not Part of Jonathan’s Money Sharing

A coalition of Igbo indigenes in Lagos State under the aegis of Association for the Defence of Igbo Interests yesterday disclosed that it was not part of ‘indecent’ money President Goodluck Jonathan shared in Lagos about fortnight ago.

However, the association listed 12 reasons it endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to build on the foundation, which it said, was laid by former state Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his successor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

The association disclosed this at a news conference addressed by its Coordinator, Prof. Chris Nwokobia, and Secretary, Dr. Harris Chuma, in Lagos, dissociating Igbo indigenes in the state “from the indecent money sharing going on now as a campaign strategy of President Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At the conference, Nwokobia pointed out that the association “did not dispute the fact that various so-called Igbo groups are partaking in the situation. They are on their own and represent themselves and the few members of their groups and families.

“Millions of Igbo in Lagos are not part of this and we wonder how much it will take to settle all Igbo in Lagos. Those who have partaken in the sharing of dollars and naira are on their own, if we must restate this fact, they should not drag Ndigbo to their illicit business.”

He, therefore, said Ndigbo indigenes “are parts and parcel of Lagos and that we share an excellent relationship with the people of Lagos, especially the Yoruba. Ndigbo are the prime beneficiaries of the conducive environment Lagos offers. Ndigbo are the prime beneficiaries of the good, orderly and secure governance in Lagos, especially in the past 16 years.”

He added that Igbo people businesses and spirit of enterprise “have flowered so well in the new Lagos, a working and modern Mega City that offers a home for all Nigerians and offers an expansive environment for their businesses to thrive unimpeded.”

He expressed concerns over the interests of some self-serving Igbo masquerading as leaders of Igbo people and self-serving groups, adding that: “It will endanger the Igbos in Lagos in the near future hence we issue this disclaimer.

“This impression amounts to a misreading of the Igbo in Lagos and their well-known republican disposition especially as it relates to issues and politics in Nigeria and do not represent the feelings and political inclination of the majority of Igbos who do their business, live and work in Lagos unimpeded.”

Nwokobia noted that the PDP “has been brash, immodest and loud in dropping the good name of Ndigbo for their political ambition to rule Lagos. We note the insinuation being created all over Lagos at present that Igbo are being mobilised with huge money and resources to work for PDP.

“While we do not deny this, we insist that this is restricted to few people who are transacting business with the name of Ndigbo. They neither represent the generality of Ndigbo nor do they represent credible Igbo platforms, which have worked well with the Yorubas since the amalgamation of Nigeria,” the chairman said.

He, therefore said Ndigbo indigenes in Lagos aligned with the huge success story of the state which “has recorded in the past 16 years under APC leadership, and we are happy that Ndigbo have expanded tremendously in this period, investing hugely in the expanding economy of the state and exploiting the promises of the state, enjoying excellent security, good infrastructures, good transportation and a friendly business environment.”

The chairman noted that more than 500 Igbo “are working in the state ministries and local government areas in various capacities, including the powerful office of Commissioner for Budget and Planning. Time and space will not permit me to mention their names here. In Abia State, a PDP Governor, Theodore Orji, sacked Igbo from Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi States.

“Lagos is home of progressive politics and that explains why it had favoured Ndigbo. Since its creation in 1967, Lagos has been controlled by the progressives. The PDP and its forefathers, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), National Republican Convention (NRC) have never controlled Lagos, even in the brief period when Lagos fell to the hands of the NRC through protest action in the Social Democratic Party (SDP).”