Posted by LUKMON BUSARI on
The Igbo speaking community in Lagos has appealed to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to re-open its frozen file so as to be carried along in the administration as the second largest tribe in the state.
The Igbo speaking community in Lagos has appealed to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to re-open its frozen file so as to be carried along in the administration as the second largest tribe in the state.
The group's newly sworn-in acting President-General, Chief Chris Ekwilo (JP), made this call in a press conference organised by the executive council of the community Tuesday.
Speaking against the backdrop of the crisis that has torn the community apart in recent past, Chief Ekwilo prayed Fashola to recognise the group since reconciliatory moves have been made to bring warring factions together. 'We are no more fighting. We are planning to bring together all the aggrieved past leaders and members of the community under one united Igbo speaking community in Lagos State," he said.
Ekwilo urged Fashola to improve the relationship that had existed between the Lagos State Government and the Igbo in the past 'by giving political appointments to the people of our community as commissioners, political advisers, board chairmanship, members of board, elective positions as LGA chairmen, vice-chairmen, councilors, including supervisory councilors in local government areas of the state where the Igbo form majority."
On the crisis that rocked the community, the acting president-general described it as unfortunate and unfair of the past leaders to the organization. He said: 'It is most unfortunate that our past leaders are still parading themselves as president-generals of the community. But let me sound a note of warning that it is no longer business as usual, as the community will take care of their illegal impersonation appropriately in the court of law.
'We hereby call on government or any individual or groups dealing with them as presidents of the community to note that they are doing so at their own risk."
Ekwilo stated further that he emerged as the acting president-general of the community being the former deputy president, adding, 'the executive council of our community last year duly and constitutionally removed the former president-general, Chief Jonathan Nnaji, out of office for gross misconduct and maladministration."