The other day, after passion ebbed and reason emerged, I tried unsuccessfully to fight or soft pedal on the urge to write my final thought on this anti-Igbo rants by HRM, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
Two thoughts battling in my head – the Igbo man spirit saying “to hell with him and his threats” while the Lawyer
in me screaming “Rationalise the episodes logically, leave no stone unturned”.
I regret to say that the latter had the better side of me. And so I begin. The Oba threatened thus “if you refuse, you will perish in the lagoon”, the people being addressed the threats were heard clapping and cheering him on in light spirits.
There are certain givens upon which I will launch my analyses. Firstly, the Oba has a political opinion just as I do.
Secondly, the Oba does not speak for the entire Lagosians or specifically the entire Yoruba race. (History has it that his dominion extends only at the Lagos Island – the Eko, being an offspring of Oba Akitoye, the brother to his forebear and predecessor-in-title Oba Kosofe was deposed by the colonial forces for his affinity with slave trading and he set up kingdoms of Badagry and Epe).
Thirdly, modern day Lagos extends from Iju Ishaga and Agege in the mainland through the island and even beyond. Fourthly, the Eze-Ndigbo that visited the Oba Akiolu did so for their respective interests.
Fifthly, the Eze-Ndigbo are only honorary and not truly Igbo Kings – Igbo Enweghi Eze (Igbos have no kings considering their republican nature), Eze anaghi ehi na mba (assuming there is a contraption called Igbo King, such a king does not customarily sleep outside Igboland).
Sixthly, the threat was addressed to the elated visitors only who accepted the threat by endorsing Ambode. Seventhly, Chief Duru – something who spoke on behalf of the guest confirmed from his counterparts only on what to do come April 11, 2015.
Eighthly and finally, the laughter that ensued the speech, coming from the “threatened”, unequivocally proved that there was no imminent harm confronting them neither was there any serious attachment that they paid to the threat.
Therefore, I undoubtedly come to the conclusion that the statement by the Oba was serious, and a grievous threat capable of leading to anarchy considering his position and our political climate. He should be mindful of insensitive utterances in the future.
Churchill Kalu,
Lagos