Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
A Chartered Architect and Infrastructural Development Consultant, Rev. Benson Ezem, has said that the ‘Indigenes right protection law’ being proposed by the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Obasa, is targeted against Igbo investments and business interests in Lagos.
The Speaker had during his acceptance speech shortly after his emergence as Speaker of the Lagos Assembly for the third consecutive time, hinted that the House would soon enact laws “to safeguard Lagos Indigenes”
Obasa also disclosed his intention to cause massive revocation of land documents under his watch as Lagos Speaker.
The Speaker had during his controversial speech declared: “There would be laws and resolutions in the areas of economy and commerce… property and titles and we will reverse all that is reversible to protect the interest of the indigenes.”
Meanwhile, the Speaker’s outbursts have been trailed by nationwide condemnation as critics said his hate-laden speech will further polarise Nigeria along ethnic lines.
Lagos State Labour Party governorship candidate, Gbadebo Patrick Rhodes-Vivour, accused the Speaker of embarking on a dangerous path capable of widening Nigeria’s fault lines and igniting ethics tension.
Similarly, Ezem expressed disappointment over the Speaker’s vituperations which he said, were targeted at Igbo businesses and investments scattered across Lagos State.
He described the Speaker’s outburst as “discretionary and hate-filled,” and cautioned him to disembark from the vindictive journey.
According to Ezem the Speaker is trying to gain political advantage through an unpopular law capable of setting Lagos on fire.
He warned that any law that would hurt non-indigenes resident in Lagos would have retrogressive effects.
He expressed bewilderment that somebody occupying a sensitive office as Lagos Speaker could descend so low to seek popularity by promoting clannishness.
Ezem said it was highly disappointing that at a time Lagos State was yet to recover from the effect of the unprovoked attacks against Igbo during the 2023 polls, the Speaker was already proposing a law that could further worsen the ill feelings.
He warned him not to think that the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s President was a right to oppress non-indigenes in Lagos or Yorubaland.
“It is unfortunate and baffling that a prominent political leader like Obasa would be in Lagos fanning the embers of hatred, discrimination and disunity at a time when President Bola Tinubu is facing an onerous task to unite a fractious country handed over to him.
“If Obasa and his colleagues in the Lagos Assembly think that because a Yoruba man is the President of Nigeria they can make life unbearable for Ndigbo in Lagos, they should have a rethink.
Ezem further said that the Speaker’s threats “are targeted at Igbo businessmen and investors in Lagos who have been turned to political punching bags for daring to hold different political views in a supposedly democratic environment.”
Ezem warned that any attempt to further hurt Igbo business interests in Lagos would have bitter consequences.
“Hon Obasa should refrain from taking any action whether through misguided legislation or any other instrument to harm Ndigbo or destroy their businesses and investments or dispossess them of their properties in Lagos,” Ezem said.
Ezem urged Obasa to learn from history how Ugandan dictator Idi Amin ruined the country’s economy when he expelled Indians and Jews that controlled the country’s economy, and confiscated their properties.
He further warned Obasa and his sponsors to learn from the experience of Zimbabwe which was plunged into penury and economic stagnation when its former President, Robert Mugabe, seized lands from white farmers and gave them out to indigenes.
Ezem warned against continued unwarranted attacks against Igbo interests by Nigeria’s political players.
He said that Ndigbo should not be treated as second class citizens in a country they have equal stakes and had sacrificed so much to keep together.
According to him, part of the reasons for the growing agitation for self determination in the South-East is because of unprovoked attacks, exclusion and marginalisation against Ndigbo.
