There may be little doubt that the relocation of the 19 igbo destitutes from Lagos state just a few months in the past was a lawful train and that it was executed within the curiosity of Lagos state. Consequently I don't consider that Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola must have tendered any type of apology in anyway to the igbo for what he did. The solely redeeming issue is the truth that the apology was clearly designed merely to calm frayed nerves and I commend Fashola for that gesture if nothing else. I say this as a result of my understanding is that he apologised NOT for the deportation itself however for ”the misunderstanding that arose from it”. There is a world of distinction between the 2.
I additionally commend him for admonishing the igbo to develop their very own area and to resolve whether or not they're ”igbo earlier than they're Nigerians or Nigerians earlier than they're igbo”. This is a basic query that I consider that we should all decide in our hearts and minds whether or not we're of igbo, yoruba, hausa/fulani or ijaw inventory or anything.
For the needs of clarification the controversy that has been raging within the land for the final two months, although sparked off by Fashola’s relocations, was extra concerning the curious declare that Lagos state was ”no man’s land” which the igbo collectively personal with the yoruba and which they'd developed, and are certainly nonetheless creating, with their cash and nothing else. It was that assertion, and never the plight of a handful of igbo destitues, that many people from west of the River Niger took concern with. Fashola and others have acknowledged.publiclly that it's ”absurd” and ”insulting” for anybody to name Lagos state ”no-man’s land” and that's ok for me. As lengthy as he didn't apologise for saying that I've no drawback with no matter he might or might not have acknowledged.concerning the deportations despite the fact that, had I been governor, I might have dealt with it otherwise.
The reality is that the yoruba means is to apologise not solely if you find yourself unsuitable but additionally if you find yourself proper in case you consider that the opposite party has been badly damage by your actions. It is a beneficiant and sort disposition which is borne out of the yoruba idea of the ”omoluwabi spirit”- an excellent coronary heart and a clear spirit that wishes, above all else, peace, pleasure and concord. Yet to these from exterior yorubaland that don't share that disposition, that don't perceive that spirit and that can't even start to grasp it, an apology is nothing lower than an act of contrition and wrong- doing and a trophy of triumph to these whom it's provided.
It is because of this that I consider that it was unsuitable for Fashola to apologise and that it can be crucial for us to think about the long run implications of what he has executed. The reality is that in life notion counts for all the things. And rightly or wrongly the notion that most individuals have, notably amongst the igbo, is that Fashola has certainly apologised for the deportations. This notion is supported by deceptive newspaper headlines which have been drafted and written by journalists who didn't trouble to learn the textual content or correctly decipher the assertion.
Whether anybody likes it or not this newest improvement is considered as a fantastic triumph for the hardline igbo nationalists and the Governor Peter Obi’s of this world who actually consider that the igbo have some form of particular rights or particular standing in Lagos and certainly in yorubaland. They say and do issues in Lagos and different components of the west that they dare not do within the north and that they'll by no means enable our individuals to do within the east.This is as a result of they concern the northerners who've typically put them of their place after they cross the road however they don't have anything however contempt for us. Fashola has now given these throughout the igbo neighborhood which have this mindset much more legitimacy, energy and confidence.
In any case now that shelling out apologies is the order of the day and he has set the precedent, the query must be asked- will Peter Obi take a cue from that, be a gentleman and apologise for deporting the individuals of Akwa Ibom from his Anambra state as nicely? Is Obi that cheap or charitable? Do those who suppose like him consider trhat what is sweet for the goose is sweet for the gander? I doubt it very a lot. Again will Fashola apologise to the quite a few northerners that he deported from Lagos as nicely and can he apologise to his yoruba kith and kin from Oyo and Osun for deporting them too? I actually do surprise how far this new-found large-heartedness and seasonal expression of regrets will go? Will it's unfold in every single place or is it solely reserved for the igbo?
More importantly, within the spirit of this new rapprochement, will Fashola secretly conceede parts of Lagos state and yorubaland to them as nicely? Will he take my expensive egbon and former cupboard colleague, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe’s counsel, and wholeheartedly settle for the attention-grabbing notion that the igbo have ”married all our daughters” in idungaran and isale-eko and that we should always due to this fact give all our land and territory to them? Will he surrender the patrimony of his individuals all within the title of making an attempt to appease the igbo and get their votes for the APC within the upcoming governorship election in Anambra state? If that's the plan I doubt that it'll work as a result of they're a reasonably unforgiving lot. The extra you give the extra they'll ask for and on the finish of the day you'll find yourself dropping way over you achieve.
Governor Chris Ngige, who's an amiable gentleman and one of the crucial respectable, accomodating, liberal, detribalised and civilised people who I do know from the east, will achieve nothing from this and sadly the person who will achieve from it is going to be the hardline, igbocentric Peter Obi and his APGA candidate in november’s gubernatorial election in Anambra state. People like Fashola must undersatand that generally in making an attempt to play the beneficiant statesman and the kind-hearted omoluwabi we find yourself being taken with no consideration and making fools of ourselves. You solely apologise to those that will admire it, who don't essentially see it as an act of contrition and who won't misconstrue it as weak spot. This is as a result of the show of weak spot by any chief, irrespective of how well-liked, solely attracts impudence and aggression from those that have a hidden agenda. A phrase is sufficient for the sensible.
If I have been Governor of Lagos state I might by no means have apologised for the execution of an official and lawful train which was completely crucial and which was executed within the pursuits of my state and my individuals, irrespective of what number of cows I had been provided or given by the kinsmen of these affected. What Fashola has executed, albeit inadvertently, is to betray these amongst his yoruba kith and kin that stood by him and defended him when he took that historic and controversial determination to deport the igbo destitutes. He has additionally fuelled the faulty impression that's held by a lot of the igbo that the yoruba individuals and their leaders are bumbling and inconsistent cowards that can't stand agency when put below stress and when confronted with threats and hardship.
This is gloomy and unlucky as a result of that isn't who or what we're. Though we cherish and infrequently manifest the omoluwabi spirit, the yoruba are additionally a lion-hearted people- we're gradual to anger however irresistable in battle. We are as fixed because the northern star despite the fact that we're accomodating and beneficiant. I've immense respect for Fashola and I occur to have a spoft spot for him however I consider that his behaviour is a transparent u-turn and that it represents a double normal, a capitulation of values and a revocation of precept. You don’t apologise for presidency coverage simply to appease a sure group of individuals irrespective of how bellicose, violent, loud and aggressive they might be. It is best to lose 1,000,000 elections exterior yorubaland than to conceed even one inch of yoruba territory to those who search to put declare to that which isn't theirs. A phrase is sufficient for the sensible.