National youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Damian Okafor, has called on the governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu to pay compensation for the destruction of properties of Ndigbo in Lagos.
In a statement he issued yesterday, Okafor said the compensation will douse the tension and reduce the sufferings of the victims and will not portray the governor as a hater of Ndigbo.
“It was uncharitable for any person or group of persons to insinuate that Ndigbo is not part of Lagos. The history of the development of Lagos State cannot be complete without Ndigbo dating back to pre-colonial, colonial, post-colonial and the current era.
“Nobody can talk of the modern Lagos without the enormous economic contribution of Ndigbo in all facets of the life of the state. It is unfortunate that some tribal persons just wanted Ndigbo to lay golden eggs without being part of the hatchery.
“It is most unfair, unjust and ungodly and impossible. Ndigbo are part of the Nigerian federation and they have the right to pursue their economic interest in any part of the country as well as express their political rights according to their conscience,” he said.
He maintained that the destruction of the properties of Ndigbo in Mafoluku, Oshodi and Alaba International Market was a result of the last presidential election in which Peter Obi of the Labour Party defeated Bola Ahmed Tinubu of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State.
“It was not only Igbo votes that gave Obi victory in Lagos but even that of Yorubas too, why then single out Ndigbo for persecution.
“We want compensation for those whose buildings were affected by the Lagos State Government demolition. In the alternative, we will support the victims to drag the state government to court for compensation.
“The development is a lesson to Ndigbo in the Diaspora on the need to bring back home a substantial part of their investment,” he said.
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