The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu yesterday summoned Igbo leaders and monarchs in Lagos State to his palace, warning that he would make life miserable for them if they sabotaged efforts to ensure that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, is elected as governor of the state.

The paramount ruler specifically vowed that whoever disobeys him on the issue would meet his end within seven days, reports the Lagos-based National Mirror. Most Igbo voters in Lagos cast ther ballot for PDP during the March 28 presidential election.

"The visibly enraged monarch, who summoned all the Eze-Ndigbo in Lagos State to his palace, said the support of their kinsmen for the opposition party in the state could frustrate current efforts in all quarters at ensuring Lagos is no longer in opposition with the Federal Government," the newspaper reports.

It quotes Oba Akiolu as saying: “On Saturday, if any one of you goes against Ambode, who I have picked, that is your end. If it doesn’t happen within seven days, just know that I am a bastard and it’s not my father who gave birth to me.

“By the grace of God, I am the owner of Lagos for the time being. This is an undivided chair. The palace belongs to the dead and those coming in the future. On Saturday, if anyone of you, I swear in the name of God, goes against my wish that Ambode becomes the next governor of Lagos State, the person is going to die inside this water.

“For the Igbo and others in Lagos, they should go where the Oba of Lagos heads to. When they were coming to the state, they didn’t come with all their houses. But now they have properties in the state. So, they must do my bidding. And that is the bidding of the ancestors of Lagos and God.

“I am not ready to beg you. Nobody knew how I picked Ambode. Jimi is my blood relation and I told him that he can never be governor in Lagos for now. The future belongs to God. I am not begging anybody, but what you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere, you cannot do it here.

“If you do what I want, Lagos will continue to be prosperous for you."

A THISDAY report quotes Eze-Ndigbo of Amuwo-Oriade, Dr. Gordian Dimojiaku, as replying the Oba thus after his tirade:

“The mistake of last Saturday was caused by everybody, not only the Igbos. It is not only the Igbos that were responsible for the votes. But we have learnt our lesson. Saturday’s election is going to be a different thing and Ambode is going to win.

“Everybody knows that when you fail the first time, you cannot afford to fail again. We are going to tell our people that Ezes from the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas are here and that we have sworn with the Oba that we are going to make sure that Ambode wins next Saturday’s election.”

•Photo shows Oba Akiolu.

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