Lagos Deportation: “I offer an unreserved apology if the actions taken had been misunderstood” - Gov Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola today tendered an unreserved apology to the Ndigbo community segment that misunderstood him, whom he referred to as his ‘kindred’ in a recent action of his administration, even as he insisted that there was a need to discuss factors that could be responsible for under-development in the South East.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island venue of a symposium to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, said although majority of Ndigbo in Lagos understood and appreciated the action of the state government, it was obvious that some Igbos did not understand it.

According to the Governor, who referred to Ndigbo everywhere as “My kindred”, “There are people who clearly do not understand me and they have misunderstood words said or misrepresented actions taken in the way that it has pleased them to do so. To those people, I owe an explanation in defense of what has happened and that is partly why I am here as well”.

Mr. Fashola stated that he valued his relationship with the Igbos.

“I came here to say to say thank you for the honour done to my family and the memory of my late father,” Mr. Fashola, whose father died last month, said.

“People who clearly do not understand the actions taken and words spoken are those I owe an explanation. I cannot take the Igbos for granted because we have built a relationship based on tolerance, mutual respect, love and trust.

“That relationship was built by our ancestors and I put a lot of value in that relationship,” said the Lagos State governor.

“I offer an unreserved apology if the actions taken had been misunderstood,” he added.

Mr. Fashola, however, called on Aka Ikenga to help address the issue of people migrating from the South-East to Lagos State.

“Is it the case that some lack the resources to develop or perhaps some parts are endowed with enormous resources but not adequately managed?”

“How can development be so difficult from the zone that has produced people like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alex Ekwueme, Ike Nwachukwu, among others?

“As political storm gathers, there are contact sports but like in football, contact sports have rules,” said Mr. Fashola.

“Those who are victims of our shortcomings as professionals in and out of government should not be pounced.

“A day like these calls for deep reflection about issues of our loyalties. Are we more Igbo than Nigeria or we are more Nigeria than Igbo?” he added.

On July 24, the Lagos State governor had dumped the evictees, under the cover of darkness, at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra State.

The action had elicited a heated row between the two states, with Peter Obi, the Anambra State Governor, threatening a reprisal.