SPONSORED: WHY IGBOS LIVING IN LAGOS MUST TROOP OUT TO VOTE IN THE 2019 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS

By Anayo M. Nwosu

"No Amount Of Intimidation Or Thuggery Can Stop The Igbos From Being Nigerians".

"Igbos will continue to be full Nigerians and will continue to exercise all the rights conferred on them by the Nigerian state which include participating and voting in elections for candidates of their choosing".... Nwosu


The successful intimidation of Igbo voters in Okota and Surulere areas of Lagos was because Igbos trusted the assurances given by President Buhari and the security agencies of adequate security. But that one has passed.

Igbos, especially those living in Lagos are used to area boys in their places of business and have a way of dealing with them. I am dead sure that they would not be surprised again. That's Igbos for you.

Since the Yorubas have not supported the Igbos' quest for a Biafran state so that Yorubas and their allies can have and enjoy Nigeria for themselves, Igbos will continue to be full Nigerians and will continue to exercise all the rights conferred on them by the Nigerian state which include participating and voting in elections for candidates of their choosing. Therefore, no amount of intimidation or thuggery can stop the Igbos from being Nigerians.

Even though the governorship contest in Lagos is between Yoruba candidates, the Igbos will turn out enmass to vote for any candidate they believe can make Lagos more cosmopolitan, more habitable and more tax friendly for all the inhabitants. They have already made up their minds.

Don't ask who Igbos shall vote.

The two frontrunners namely: Sanwo-Olu and Jimi Agbaje have been engaging various Igbo groups for votes. They know that Igbo votes matter in Lagos. They have been witnesses to how Igbos vote especially how they demonstrated their weight in the last presidential and national assembly elections.

All those Igbos hired to mobilise an Igbo boycott of March 9 governorship elections have failed in their ungodly assignment. Many Igbos are not falling for that.

Igbos will vote in the Lagos governorship elections because the person who wins will take decisions on their markets, land perfection charges, land use charges, street roads to construct and houses to demolish. A governor that hates Igbos will act against Igbo interests. Not even now Igbos disobeyed the Lagos owner and voted for Atiku.

I gathered that the sole reason why some Igbos will come out to vote next Saturday is to help their Yoruba friends dismantle the dominion and principality of a man who determines what happens in Lagos like a god. He talks like god. He decrees and it happens. Igbos angst against the big man of Lagos politics is that he talked down on them few weeks ago. I believe he made a mistake.

The later day claimers of "Lagos for Yorubas" should know that Ndị Igbo and other tribes came to Lagos firstly because it was the Federal Capital of Nigeria before the capital was moved to Abuja. Secondly, Igbos are in Lagos because Lagos is in Nigeria and every citizen has the right to live freely and vote in any part of Nigeria including Lagos.

One attribute of the Igbos that set them apart is fearlessness and clarity on issues without pretense. That is why they will all troop out next Saturday to vote for whosoever they like to become the governor of Lagos.

I am Igbo. I live in Lagos. I will come out to vote for my preferred candidate on March 9, 2019. I shall be well prepared for anyone that will attempt to deprive me of my right.  We shall die there!

Nothing is left in an Igbo man deprived of his rights and pride by a fellow man. Not even the British successfully colonized the Igbos. No Igbo governors or any traditional ruler can abridged our rights. Never! We are Igbos!

Historically, Igbos are known to change or sack any non performing deity in their towns. Any deity who demanded appeasement or sacrifice beyond the reach of its worshippers was instantly "degoded" and replaced with another deity. That is why we have different gods namely Udo, Uzukpe, Ezemewi, Ogwugwu, Ekwensu, Omaliko etc. to create competition amongst the divine beings and to  extract performance.

Igbos fear no man and have little regards for man made gods.

It is a general saying in Igbo land  that "when a deity refuses to serve its purpose and begins to cause problems, it will be shown the tree from where it was carved out".

You can now see why Igbo don't bow or kneel to greet a fellow mortal. And we cannot learn or start to worship a man in Lagos.

For now, I believe that the governors of Lagos state shall continue to be of Yoruba extraction; however Igbos due to their numerical strength in Lagos, will always influence who the governor will be.

Any Igbo man or woman who refuses to come out to vote next Saturday is a coward. All my family members will come out to vote and will wait till our votes are counted.

To all Igbos in Lagos, come out and vote! It's your right!