The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has issued a statement, clarifying the Oba’s statement when Igbo leaders in Lagos visited him on Sunday.

Akiolu had dared the Igbo chiefs to go against his wish in the forthcoming governorship election and face death in the Lagoon within seven days.

“On Saturday, if anyone of you goes against Ambode who I picked, that is your end. If it doesn’t happen within seven days, just know that I am a bastard and it is not my father who gave birth to me,” major national newspapers quoted the monarch as saying.

“Jonathan is my son and I speak to him everyday. 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.”, the Oba said.

Ambode of the APC and Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are the two major contenders in the governorship election holding on April 11 across the country.

Last year, Akiolu was the first to endorse the candidature of Ambode, urging Lagos residents to cast their votes for him.

But there are indications that the Igbos resident in Lagos will, like they did in the presidential election, vote massively for the PDP.

In the presidential election, the APC defeated the PDP by 160,000 votes, with a huge chunk of the latter’s votes coming from Igbo dominated areas.

The PDP also won three House of Representatives’ ticket in Lagos – all of them in areas where the Igbos have a majority population.

Akiolu said, as captured in audio recording of his anti-Igbo outburst, he would not beg the Ndigbo in Lagos to cast their votes for the APC candidate as he was the owner of Lagos State.

“I’m not ready to beg you. Nobody knew how I picked Ambode. Jimi (Agbaje) is my blood relation and I told him that he cannot be governor in Lagos for now,” he said.

“The future belongs to God. I am not begging anybody, but what you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere, don’t 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.”

However, while reacting to the story, the Oba said: “My attention has been drawn to a publication in a national newspaper where HRM Oba Riliwanu Akinolu was alleged to have threatened Igbos in Lagos to make them vote for Ambode.

“Last Sunday, all honorary Eze Ndigbos in Lagos paid a courtesy call to HRM Oba Akinolu.

“At the meeting the visitors praised the Oba for his fatherly support for and cooperation with Igbos in. Lagos.

“They assured him of their continued good neighborliness with other tribes in Lagos and support everything that’ll further strengthen that harmony.

“Oba Akiolu on his part acknowledged the enviable performance of Governor Fashola and his contribution to the growth of investments in Lagos.

“He gave the assurance that he is not disturbed or angry with South-East and South- South votes for President Jonathan as perceived by the Eze Ndigbos.

“The Obas thereafter called on the Igbos chiefs to show appreciation to Lagos State by supporting his candidate Mr. Ambode for continuity of excellence as they have earlier promised.

“He assured them of his continued support‎ and assistance where needed and the meeting ended with the traditional breaking of kolas, alligator pepper, and bitter kola and pouring of liberation on the ground.

“It was within this context that that the tradition of Lagos with regard to the lagoon came up.

It was noted that whoever works against the throne and the interest and peaceful co-existence of Lagos would end up in the lagoon as per tradition.

“Oba Akiolu stated further that the Igbo people have not betrayed the throne. Lagos has also not betrayed the Igbo people.

“Lagos has done so much to make the Igbos comfortable and to prosper. For this, we expect reciprocal respect and understanding.

“The Oba of Lagos prays that the Lagoon and the throne will continue to bless and protect all those who reside and visit Lagos.

“Oba Akiolu is the father of all irrespective of tribe, religion or political persuasion. In Lagos, we have an old traditional proverb that relates to the Lagoon.
The Lagoon is unique to Lagos. The proverb stresses the need for unity and understanding when you do business in an environment and in this case when you live and do business in Lagos.

“Oba Akiolu prays for peace for the land of Lagos and prosperity for all its inhabitants.”, the Oba said.

The audio evidence of the event was contrary to the clarification by the royal father.

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