By Martin Paul
Abuja
The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has denied ever threatening any Igbo man, who voted against the candidacy of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, with death penalty.
In a statement from the Oba’s palace yesterday and signed by Chief Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, Opeluwa of Lagos, Akiolu denied threatening the Igbos if they did not vote for Ambode.
The statement read: “Last Sunday, all honorary Eze Ndigbos in Lagos paid a courtesy call to HRM Oba Akiolu. 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 neighbourliness with other tribes in Lagos and support everything that would further strengthen that harmony.
“Akiolu on his part acknowledged the enviable performance of Governor Raji Fashola and his contribution to the growth of investments in Lagos. He gave the assurances that he is not disturbed or angry with South-East and South- South votes for President Jonathan as perceived by the Eze Ndigbos”.
“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.
But, report stated that the recorded voice of Akiolu, said equivocally that “On Saturday, if any one 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’s not my father who gave birth to me.
“Jonathan is my son and I speak to him every day, 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.
“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, 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.”