by Deji Abiodun
Former Lagos State governor and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu and the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, have urged Igbo residents in the state to shun monetary inducements and support the party’s candidates at all levels.
NewsWireNGR is reliably informed that President Goodluck Jonathan who seeks a re-election has not only collapsed his campaign into that of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Jimi Agabaje, he has gone in full force to ask the Igbo’s who are his greatest support to back Agbaje in Lagos.
The Jagaban of Lagos as he’s called was at the solidarity rally organised by the Igbo traditional council led by the Eze Ndigbo in Ikeja, Eze Uche Dimgba, Tinubu, who arrived the Onikan Stadium venue of the rally in company of Ambode, said successive APC governments in Lagos have maintained an indiscriminate relationship with Igbos in the state.
“Today, all of you; the grassroots, the Igbo – you are here in Lagos. Are you not comfortable? Are you not safe? Are you not building your houses? You have been here 20 years, 29 years, and 50 years. Nobody can discriminate against you. Nobody will fight you based on your language. But it is now they remember you and try to ‘dollarise’ everything.
“Can they give you shops; can they give you markets and pay schools for your children? Can they pay the WAEC fees for your children? In Lagos, when you need shop do we ask you whether you are Igbo? When we pay WEAC fees of your children do we ask if you are Igbo? When you go to hospital, do we discriminate?
“You cannot say Igbo has never ruled Lagos. When my wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu started the Spelling Bee for all children in public schools, the boy who came first when they started, Ebuka Anisiobi; he came first and we gave him scholarship. We didn’t say because he is Igbo, we wouldn’t give him the scholarship. He became the first Igbo to become governor of Lagos for one day.
“Today, the boy is a success. He has come out of Cambridge University on scholarship. We didn’t discriminate against him. He graduated with a First Class. He is now an executive of Oando. Ebuka is an Igbo boy. When our child was reading for his examination, we called him to come and help put him through. Now, somebody brings money to come and buy your conscience.
“Giving you money is not taking care of your children’ future, this is the time to show that you are independent. If you vote for APC, you know you are voting for the future,” he told the people.
