Ayodele Olalere
The former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bode George has slammed those calling on the Igbo to leave Lagos calling the campaign ‘arrant nonsense’.
While speaking in Lagos, Bode George said it’s ‘sheer stupidity’ for a faceless group to be campaigning for Igbo exit in Lagos.
“That type of campaign is ‘arrant nonsense’; it is ‘sheer stupidity, 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 together. I think those who are proposing or talking about it are not Lagos indigenes themselves,”he said.
He noted that Igbo Lagos State welcomes people from all tribes which have seen Igbo plying their trades in the state.
“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. Those who are proposing this nonsense have no bearing, no family connection to Lagos. I am saying it as a Lagosian. It is arrant stupidity. Why would you tell them to leave? They pay their taxes,” he added.
He further said: “Why are you fighting them? Does it make sense? Lagos State was created in 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 added.