By Lanre Adesanya
Piqued by what they referred to as a repeated attempt to siphon the common good of Igbos in Lagos state, the Igbo Leaders in All Progressives Congress in the state have urge party’s stakeholders to discountenance alleged Igbo interlopers any reckoning ahead of 2019 general elections.
The Apex leader of the group Engineer Joe Igbokwe who is also APC’s Publicity Secretary in Lagos echoed their stance at a Press Conference held in Lagos today, to officially Institute a leadership structure for the Igbos in the state.
He stated unequivocally that there is an urgent need to speak with one voice and ensure a formidable front exist for the Igbo descents, who are loyal to APC and have carved a niche for themselves in the state, rather than have some opportunist who often position themselves to reap from where they have not sow in time past.
“We have succeeded in putting this leadership structure together in order to present a United Igbo Family to the leadership of APC Lagos for the good of the Commonwealth.
“It has become imperative to do this in order to refurbish, reposition, reorganise and rejig Igbo in Lagos politics.
“This is because we have noticed that all manner of people gather themselves every election year and go to extort money from the state, promising to deliver Igbo votes to our party in Lagos.
“Over the years we have noticed that these people are funny characters, fraudsters, interlopers, and political entrepreneurs whose aim is to make money and nothing more.
“They go to swindle our leaders every election year. While they enjoy their loot every election year, the real people that work and vote for our party are left with nothing. While the real party men and women work tirelessly to lift our party up, these political traders abandon their shops to reap where they did not sow.” Igbokwe reiterates.
He also noted that the National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as the Lagos gubernatorial candidate of the party Mr Jide Sanwo-Olu and the party’s chairman Alhaji Tunde Balogun have been informed about their stance.
“We are therefore asking the APC leaders in Lagos to see this body as the final bus stop for the Igbo in APC Lagos. It is our wish that henceforth, all matters pertaining to Ndigbo in APC Lagos will be routed through this body. On our own, we promise to provide required leadership, carry everybody along, be fair to all concerned, show commitment and finally mobilize our people for victory.
The list of Igbo Leaders in APC Lagos State, are stated as follows; Engineer Joe Igbokwe, Barrister Oby Onu, Hon. Jude Idimogu FCA, Chief Chris Ekwilo JP (representing Anambra),Eze Uche Dimgba (Ezeigbo Ikeja) (Representing Abia State), Eze Nwachukwu (Ezeigbo Lagos),Chief Baba Tata (representing Imo State),Dr. Engineer Mordi (representing Igbo Speaking people of Delta State),Mr. James Uche Ugwu(representing Enugu State),Hon.Unya Smart (representing Ebonyi State).