Olubode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described as “arrant nonsense”, recent calls by some faceless groups asking Igbo people to leave Lagos.
Mr George in an interview said it is sheer stupidity for anyone to ask Igbos to leave Lagos State.
“That type of campaign is ‘arrant nonsense’; it is ‘sheer stupidity,” Mr George said.
The retired army officer, who is also an indigene of Lagos indigene said he wants to believe that those who propose such are not Lagos indigenes themselves.
He said, “It is nonsense. I say it is arrant nonsense. Why should we be saying that the Igbo people should leave?
“We have grown with them here. I had known them. We played local football, local football together.
“In Lagos, we welcome traders. Bring your wares, we look at it, we buy it, you make your money, we give you land to build. That is the culture of Lagos,” Mr George said.Going down memory lane, he recalled that Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, who is of Igbo extraction, became the political son of his great grand uncle, Sir Herbert Macaulay.
Mr George said the Igbo people in Lagos are paying their taxes and should be allowed to enjoy the fruit of their labour.
He added, “Why are you fighting them? Does it make sense? Lagos State was created since 1967. Since that time to now, the Igbo have had their contributions.
“So, to me, such a campaign is idiotic. Very idiotic. They should stop,” George cautioned.
“They should just shut up. If they have a right to come here, why are they blocking others? The Igbo have their own contribution to make.
“They are buying houses and building houses. They are contributing to the development of economic activities in Lagos. They are most welcome,” he said.
