Lagos PVC clash: Igbo not under attack — Ohanaeze

APC Suffering From Pre-election Fever – PDP Contrary to claims that Igbo resident in Lagos State was being attacked, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo insists that nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, the group asserted that contrary to the claims that the fracas, which broke out at a voters card collection centre was targeted at persons of South-East extraction, their businesses, security, and peace were not in any way threatened in the state. The explanation notwithstanding, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of seeking to prevent citizens in Lagos State from registering and collecting their voters’ cards for fear of defeat in the 2023 general elections. The President of Ohanaeze Lagos, Chief Solomon Agunene, while debunking the rumour said that what appeared to have caused the rumour is the problem arising from the collection of voters’ cards. Aguene appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led’s administration to intervene in the matter so that the Igbo in Ojo, Ikotun, and other Lagos suburbs can get their cards without stress at INEC registration centres.

He recalled that at the last two general meetings of Ohanaeze held at Calabar Hall, Ajao Road, more than 1,500 attendees endorsed Governor Sanwo-Olu for a second term, adding that it is only through the acquisition of PVCs that Igbo in Lagos can massively vote for the APC. According to Chief Agunene, Ohanaeze, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, in its bid to sensitise Igbo in Lagos to their civic responsibilities, made the acquisition of PVCs mandatory for full membership of the organisation. He added that Sanwo-Olu has demonstrated love and strong attachment to Igbo people that are living in Lagos, hence the huge support for his administration.

“The Igbo ethnic nationality is not in contention with any tribe,” he said, reiterating that the harmony, cordiality and friendliness that have existed between the Igbo in Lagos and their Yoruba hosts must be continually nurtured, just as he called on the governor and members of the public to disregard statements, or information purportedly issued on behalf of Igbo people in Lagos from any individual, or group, which does not emanate from the office of the President of Ohanaeze Lagos, or the secretariat at James Robertson Street, Surulere, Lagos.

ads But the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said: “Nigerians are disturbed by the dastardly action instigated by leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) to prevent citizens, particularly people of the South East region that are resident in Lagos State from collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to enable them to vote in the 2023 general elections.” He claimed that: “That action by the APC in Lagos is part of its desperate design to use violence to sabotage free, fair and credible elections in 2023 having realised that Nigerians have rejected its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the polls.” The PDP spokesman also alleged that “Asiwaju Tinubu has been in morbid fear of the soaring popularity of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, hence the attempt by the APC to stop Nigerians from obtaining their PVCs to vote in the elections, an action that portends serious threat and danger to our democratic process.”

“Is it not an irony that the party of the government of the day that pretends to have the support of the people and professes continuity is busy chasing away prospective voters?” The statement queried, adding that the APC is already suffering from Pre-Election Fever Syndrome in trepidation that it cannot win in a free, fair, credible, and transparent process where Nigerians are allowed to freely express their will.”