By Hope James
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has stated that the call to evict Igbos from Lagos State, through the IgboMustGo Campaign, is ‘stupid’, Edum News reports.
He stated this while speaking at the sidelines of an interactive session with the media on the State of the Nation, held at his office in Ikoyi.
He noted that the Igbos have made immense contributions to the economic development of the State, and deserve to stay as much as anyone else.
The retired army officer also pointed out that past heroes of the Igbo tribe, like Nnamdi Azikiwe, fought alongside his great grand uncle, Herbert McCauley, for the nationalism of the country before the Yoruba counterparts like Awolowo came to join them.
He described those calling for the eviction of Igbos from the State, as faceless groups, adding that they are not real indigenes of the State and has no bearing or connection to the State.
He said, “That type of campaign is ‘arrant nonsense’; it is ‘sheer stupidity, it is nonsense. I say it is arrant nonsense. Why should we be saying that the Igbo people should leave?
“We have grown with them here. I had known them. We played local football together.
“I think those who are proposing or talking about it are not Lagos indigenes themselves.
“In Lagos, we welcome traders. Bring your wares, we look at it, we buy it, you make your money, we give you land to build. That is the culture of Lagos.
“Those who are proposing this nonsense have no bearing, no family connection to Lagos. I am saying it as a Lagosian. It is arrant stupidity. Why would you tell them to leave? They pay their taxes.
“Why are you fighting them? Does it make sense? Lagos State was created since 1967. Since that time to now, the Igbo have had their contributions. So, to me, such campaign is idiotic. Very idiotic. They should stop.
“The Igbo have their own contribution to make.They are buying houses and building houses. They are contributing to the development of economic activities in Lagos. They are most welcome”.
