Desperation produced despicable actions on February 23, 2019, as thugs acting in the name of the All Progressives Congress stopped Igbo voters in various parts of Lagos. Where they could not stop them, they snatched and burnt ballot boxes so that the votes of these persons in Okota, Isolo, Oshodi and Mafoluku could not count.
As force attracts countervailing force, the victims overpowered one of the thugs and almost sent him to the beyond. Even then, their humanity stirred, and they took him to a hospital. It was a great relief to all but the vendors of hatred and worshippers at the altar of crass power.
The recourse to atavistic ethnic politics in Nigeria’s foremost city-state is appalling. All lovers of democracy, a better Lagos and the positives of Nigeria should join in condemning it. It should not be allowed to grow in any form.
Of course, citizens and analysts have pointed to the obnoxious Bola Tinubu Doctrine as the witch that cried the night before the death of the child. The leader of the APC practised the pastime of the APC in their engagement with the Igbo of the South East. Rather than present facts and persuasion, APC tries to wrestle the Igbo with intimidation, blackmail and antagonism.
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The Tinubu Doctrine was classic blackmail. The APC held a meeting with representatives of the Igbo on Wednesday, February 20, 2019, ahead of the election of February 23. Note that no such meeting held before the rescheduled February 16 date. As published by The Punch newspaper, quoting the News Agency of Nigeria the next day, Tinubu deployed blackmail and threats.
“We appeal to our Igbo brothers from the East: this is the state where you conduct your businesses, your children are in our schools. We don’t discriminate against them in our WAEC fees.We don’t discriminate against them for NECO fees. We don’t discriminate against them for JAMB fees. Even in our universities, they take the benefit of our tuition and allowances and all that.
“Now, this time, we say, help us. We say vote for us and our candidates,” Tinubu said.
He reminded them of the time the popular ASPAMDA market and other markets dominated by the Igbo faced threats of demolition, recalling that he took necessary steps to save the markets, thereby protected the interests of the traders who were mainly from the South East.
He warned that the party would monitor election results in Igbo-dominated areas such as Amuwo-Odofin, Ojo, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, and Surulere in anticipation of votes for APC.
The thugs of the APC implemented the last part of the Tinubu Doctrine on presidential election day as it was a call to them to ensure that Igbo voters should not have the right to choose. Implied in the Tinubu Doctrine is the notion of apartheid or Sabo in Lagos. He states a desire to impose unfair charges for services in Lagos for non-indigenes. It is as well that others have reminded him that he is not an indigene of Lagos as well.
The first elections western-style in Nigeria happened in Lagos in 1923. Since then, the city that does not tolerate nonsense has grown as a harmonious enclave and a place for all Nigerians. It is staking a claim as a global city and the preferred destination for all West Africans. It is shocking therefore to confront this retrogression from a very unlikely quarter.
Lagos is chinaware. No bulls should step into such a shop, either in words or actions. The city-state requires the careful, considerate and mature handling that has ensured its growth and prosperity over the years. I commend APC gubernatorial candidate Babajide Sanwo-Olu who moved to calm the situation. He stated, “Many ethnic nationalities have settled in Lagos and have made this place home. We cannot allow a four-year election cycle to divide us. I, therefore, urge all our Igbo and Hausa brothers and sisters to continue to live in peace as we have lived together over the years. Everyone is safe in Lagos.”
Lagos is like London. Both cities are commercial capitals and thus attract diverse citizenship. The two largest cities in the UK, London and Birmingham, are run by mayors who came from outside the indigene stock. Sadiq Khan, in London, traces his origins to India and Pakistan while Randal L Woodfin is a black. Both men were born in the cities over which they preside. Global cities would replicate this trend in the years ahead.
This column predicted that the Igbo would play a central role in General Elections 2019. “The Igbo wars on politics and culture” stated that the matter of the choice and direction of the Igbo in Nigerian politics is a top burner item. It is now playing out nationwide and not only in the Igbo homeland.
The Igbo will not succumb to threats, blackmail and other forms of intimidation. No would they surrender to apartheid in any part of Nigeria. The Igbo are part of Nigeria and have embraced the nation with as much passion after the war as in the pre-independence days. Nigeria must embrace its Igbo with as much love and enthusiasm. No other route would suffice or satisfy.
I end with a recall of our discourse in 2015. “Ndigbo say ire oma ka eju ji a gan’ogwu. This is the time to understand where we stand, appreciate the sensibilities of other demographic groups, and tread surefootedly but sensibly. Rather than the traditional “they hate us” response, we must now understand what it is that we need to do to remain good neighbours without losing momentum. There will be unprovoked attacks sometimes. The Jews in America are illustrative. They have soft power, but do not bother with seeking the Presidency. It may come someday, but in reality they have as much power as any demographic without titular power in that open manner.
“What the Igbo need is space within which to unleash their enterprise and passion. Ubiquity has made the Igbo the favourite object of anger directed at the other. Nevertheless, rather than allow it degenerate into xenophobia, we should become the unity glue of Nigeria. We should work with every one, haters as well as admirers, to ensure that the unfortunate outburst of the Oba of Lagos turns into a positive rather than a negative for everyone in Lagos but more so for the demographic represented by the Igbo.”
Chido Nwakanma
