From left: Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu 1; Dr. Gordian Dimojiaku, the Eze Ndigbo,Amuwo/Oriade Local Goverment Area of Lagos State and Chief Waheed Ayeni, the Sasore of Lagos, during a meeting between the Oba and Ndigbos, who pledged their support for APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos yesterday.
The Chairman of Councils of Obas and Chiefs in Lagos State, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu 1 yesterday warned Igbo leaders and monarchs in the state not to vote against All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in Saturday’s governorship election.
Oba Akiolu gave the warning while addressing invited guests at his palace, Iga-Idunganran, Lagos Island.
According to the Oba, he had spoken with the governorship candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to shelve the idea of becoming the next Governor of Lagos State at this juncture.
The Lagos monarch said, “On Saturday, if any one of you goes against Ambode who I picked, that is your end.
“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 will be the next governor of Lagos State, the person is going to die inside this water.
“For the Igbos 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 in your area where you come from, you cannot do it here.
“If you do what I want, Lagos will continue to be prosperous for you, if you go against my wish, you will perish in the water.”
Oba Akiolu further said: “I am for the progress, growth and development in Lagos. Ambode is highly cerebral, he’s a symbol and he is going to deliver the message which I the Oba of Lagos have said. And he will govern the state for another eight years.
“He is going on a mission and God will give him the wisdom and knowledge to fulfill that mission. Almost a year ago, I declared that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos and it will not change.
“From time immemorial, the previous occupiers of this house (Iga-Idunganran palace) will say what they wanted after consultation with other people. And this hasn’t changed and it will not change at this time.”
Akiolu further said: “If not for the appeal from Asiwaju and my highly respected maternal father, the Awujale of Ijebu-Ode, all these that is happening today in Lagos would not have happened.”
Speaking on General Muhammadu Buhari’s victory during the Presidential election, the Oba of Lagos said “It is God who chose him. And God who chose him will be with him. It is God who decided the outcome of the polls. Nigerians had entrusted their confidence in him, God will guide him the right way so that in the end he would be a success and Nigeria will move forward.
“All that Lagos has lost since 1960 till now, with this, God has opened the way and it will begin to come. I know he is a capable hand and God will be with him. It is government of progress,” the Oba said.
Responding to Oba Akiolu’s statement, Dr. Gordian Dimojiaku the Eze- Ndigbo of Amuwo -Oriade, Lagos said they would do the bidding of the paramount Lagos monarch and support the APC candidate in the governorship polls.
A year ago, Oba of Lagos at a book launch by Akinwunmi Ambode openly said that paramount leaders in Lagos State had chosen Ambode to succeed Governor Fashola. His remarks caused sharp reactions among politicians in the state.
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