The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has implored the Igbo resident in Lagos State, to remain neutral over the leadership crisis rocking the state House of Assembly.
A statement issued on Wednesday, by the Ohanaeze factional Deputy President -General, Okechukwu lsigozoro, stated that the contest for power is not merely a local affair; it is imbued with the potential for collateral damage, particularly to the interests and well-being of the Igbo in the state, who have borne the brunt of various political machinations.
Ohanaeze cautioned that the persistent persecution and systematic dismantling of Igbo-owned markets and properties in Lagos, which has prevailed since 2023, are manifestations of a broader political strategy aimed directly at alienating the lgbo people.
The organization alleged that information at its disposal, indicate there are attempts to co-opt Igbo communities into supporting one faction against the other in the ongoing struggle over the speaker position of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
It said that this strategy is fraught with peril and seeks to exacerbate ethnic divisions, merely repackaging a historical crisis that, if repeated, could lead to dire consequences for all involved, including the Igbo populace.
“It is crucial to recognize that entangling ourselves in these factions risk transforming our communities into scapegoats and sacrificial lambs in a power struggle that is neither our battle, nor our burden to bear.
“We call upon any participants engaging in these maneuvers to reflect on the lessons of the past. The political discord of 1961-1965, which culminated in severe unrest and chaos, serves as a historical admonition for us today.
“We must collectively resist the temptation to descend into a cycle of violence and reprisal reminiscent of the wild, wild West, in which political ambitions took precedence over communal harmony.
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“In this context, Ohanaeze Ndigbo avers that the sanctity of Nigeria’s democratic framework is under significant threat. We urge all citizens, particularly those invested in democratic ideals, to ensure that the developments surrounding the Lagos speakership crisis do not devolve into the catastrophic failures witnessed in previous decades.
“The incident of February 17, 2025, wherein security agencies were deployed to seal off the Lagos State House of Assembly, at the behest of the acting clerk, serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of our political architecture.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo firmly advocates for neutrality among Igbo citizens during this period. The stakes are too high, and the repercussions of aligning with one faction or another in this political impasse could very well secure our downfall.
“We must conduct ourselves with prudence and circumspection, to avoid the foreshadowing of further division in what ought to be a unified struggle for equity and justice,” it added.
