Don’t Make Lagos Governorship Election An Ethnic Issue, Osoba Tells Igbos

Posted by Nwa Diokpa Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Tuesday, March 7th, 2023

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun state, has tasked Igbos residing in Lagos not to make the state’s gubernatorial election “an ethnic issue”.

Osoba made this known in an interview with TVC on Monday.

The African Examiner writes that Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos and APC candidate, and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), are the two individuals entangled with the issue of ethnic sentiments.

The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, comes from the east and also Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is married to Mrs. Ifeyinwa Rhodes-Vivour from the east also. This has made some persons unhappy with the loss of Peter Obi, gearing to support Rhodes-Vivour.

Speaking concerning this, Osoba warned Lagosians that making the election about ethnicity could be “destructive”.

According to him, Lagos is the “most liberal state in this country” and he enjoined “our Igbo brothers and sisters in Lagos” to maintain the relationship.

“I appeal to my Igbo brothers and sisters, don’t let us make this an ethnic issue. Anywhere in the world where ethnicity has become an issue, it becomes destructive,” the former governor said.

“I will plead that the youth, our religious people, and our Igbo brothers and sisters in Lagos should think of the past. Nnamdi Azikwe, the father figure of Igbo land… all his political life was in Lagos.

“The first Igbo lawyer, Sir Louis Mbanefo, went to Methodist Boys High School and King’s College; he had his education in Lagos.

“We have been working together. Let us sustain the relationship. Lagos is the most liberal state in this country. Lagos has given so much to all of us, let us pay back by showing gratitude to a governor who I believe has done his best.”