Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor), the Lead Visioner of the Lagos4Lagos Movement and 2023 PDP Governorship Candidate in Lagos State, says the state government does not hate Igbo community.
Adediran, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the remarks during a meeting with key leaders of Ndigbo community and members of Team Jandor from South East on Tuesday in Ikeja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the parley, which drew some Ndigbo leaders from some local governments, to appease Ndigbos and correct the notion that recent demolitions of illegal structures in some Igbo-populated markets targeted them.
Adediran, who hails from Ojo in Badagry Division of Lagos which houses major Igbo-populated markets where some demolitions were carried out, said that the enforcement of the physical planning law was not out of hatred for any section.
He said: “I want to cast your mind back as Igbos in Lagos, and to let you know that the people and governments of Lagos don’t hate you.
“In the history of this country, in fact, with the man who is the President today, Lagos is the first state that accommodated non-indigene in their highest decision making–the state cabinet.
“We are all living witnesses to how hospitable Lagos has been to the non-indigenes.
“If we have few issues that are coming up, because few of you (Igbo traders) have gone on the wrong side of the law, and the government of the day decides to implement the law, it is not hatred.
“People should not take this as hatred for Igbos, no! The demolition that is going on in Lagos today, is not targeted at Igbo, it affects Yorubas also,” he said.
He urged the Igbos living in the state to forget the past and disabuse their minds from the perception that the Yorubas in Lagos hate them.
Adediran urged the Igbo leaders to take the message back to their brothers and sisters, assuring them of a more expanded meeting with non-indigenes for harmonious relationship.
Adediran emphasised that the state had been hospitable enough, selling land to Ndigbos, employing them in civil/public service, building schools for them, creating environment for their businesses to thrive.
He urged the leaders not to listen to politicians that he said were instigating that the Yorubas did not like them.
Reacting to issues raised by some Igbo leaders in attendance about perceived hatred shortly after the since 2023 general elections, Adediran promised to create an avenue for dialogue.
He also promised to visit all the places that were affected by recent demolitions and communicate all their concerns to the state government.
Adediran noted that the meeting was not about politics, but how to ensure that the APC continues to win in Lagos State even after the 2027 general elections, “irrespective of who is on the ballot”.
Responding, Chief Sunday Udeh, the President General, Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos State, said that the body of Igbo speaking community in Lagos State remained not partisan.
Udeh, who noted that though he had been supporting APC, however said that the outcome of the 2023 general elections in Lagos brought a demarcation between Igbos and Yoruba in the state.
“We can never fight the government or the party in power.
“Igbos and Yorubas work together and there is nothing that should stop that. Your message will go round because we have our leaders here.
“We know that demolition is everywhere once your structure is in the wrong place. We however, believe that it got worse after the 2023 General Elections.
“We used to have an Igboman in the state house of assembly, we had a special adviser to the Governor and an Igbo commissioner, but after the 2023 general elections, we don’t have anyone.
“We want you to help us pass our message to them (government),” he told Adediran.
Also speaking, Dr Okey Anorue, Eze Ndigbo Igbogbo/Baiyeku and Babaloja of Tejuosho Market emphasised the need for peace and propagating the ideals of living together.
Describing Adediran as “sellable”, Anorue assured the governorship aspirant in 2027 of support.
Also speaking, Deacon Charles Obih, the National President, the Market Leaders Association of Nigeria stresses that It is also loved the Yorubas in the state hence the intermarriages.
“We are ready to support you, APC and we are going to move round to make sure President Bola Tinubu is reelected in 2027. The problem of Nigeria did not start from him,” Obih said.
Ndigbo Women leaders at the meeting, Chief Amaka Chibuzor, Chief Ebere Odikonaba and Uju Ofohre unanimously Igbo women in Lagos State to support the ruling party.
