Igbo Groups Drag Oba of Lagos to NHRC

As the flame of anger continues to burn over the death threat by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, on Igbos in Lagos if they failed to vote for his preferred governorship candidate Akinwumi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday's governorship election, Igbo groups in Lagos have dragged the Oba to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

In a petition sent to the commission, the Ohaneze-Ndigbo Lagos and Igbo Justice Congress called for its intervention to thwart the threat by Akiolu.

The petition signed by Hon. Innocent Arinze for Ohaneze Ndigbo and Arinze Ugwu for Igbo Justice Congress reads: "The entire Igbo people in Lagos State seek your intervention to forestall the threat by HRM Oba Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos to drown all Ndigbo in Lagos State inside the lagoon if they failed to vote his candidate, Mr Akinwumi Ambode of the APC Lagos.

"Sequel to a widely publicized write-up in almost all the national newspapers on the 6th of April on the aforementioned, we on behalf of the entire Ndigbo resident in Lagos State solicit your intervention to avert a carnage that might follow the Kabiesi's threat as Ndigbo have always been targets of such threats in the past.

"We most courteously solicit your intervention in order to support the spirited and strident peace efforts President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari as enshrined in their noble peace accord
agreement for a peaceful pre and post election periods. On this peaceful and commendable charter of free, fair and peaceful election we all stand.

"We equally add that Oba Akiolu had a day before, issued a text message to the good people of Lagos to resist and attack Ndigbo to stop what he called the 'Take Over' of Lagos State as according to him, Hausas took over Kwara State, the SMS is quite anti-semite and capable of igniting ethnic war in an election period.

"Ndigbo therefore asks all the security agencies to save them from the threat of Oba Akiolu as we are poised to exercise our franchise of voting for the candidate of our choice and defend same."

They called on all Ndigbo in Lagos State to be law abiding, as they are willing to do all within the law to protect their lives and properties including seeking the protection of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The petition was copied to the ICC, the Inspector-General of Police (IG), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Jonathan, President-elect Buhari, Governor Babatunde Fashola, APC Leader Ahmed Tinubu, the embassies of the US, UK and the European Union. (Thisday)