The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has issued a strong warning to all Igbos residing in Lagos State to maintain strict neutrality in the ongoing political crisis surrounding the Speakership of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The group expressed concerns that the dispute between the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and the newly elected Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, could escalate into a crisis reminiscent of the infamous 1965 “Operation Wetie” political conflict in the old Western Region.
In a statement signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Deputy President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the organization noted that the struggle over the Lagos Speakership is not merely a power tussle but a calculated contest over the state’s vast financial resources, including Value Added Tax (VAT), taxation, and rental revenues.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo cautioned that intelligence reports indicate efforts to drag Igbo residents into the crisis, warning that any such involvement could further ethnicize the dispute.
The group stressed that Igbos should resist any pressure to take sides, as history has shown that political crises in Nigeria often lead to dangerous repercussions.
Part of the statement read: “In light of intelligence gathered, we are acutely aware of manoeuvres aimed at enlisting Igbo communities into the fray of this political crisis.
“We must be explicit: any such attempts to engage Igbos in support of one political faction or another are nothing short of calculated tactics designed to escalate tensions and further ethnicize this political debacle.
“As such, we implore all Igbo residents of Lagos to resist any temptations to embroil themselves in these factional disputes.
“Furthermore, we urge those engaged in the ongoing political contest to draw lessons from the annals of history. The events between 1961 and 1965 in the old Western Region, characterized by the dreadful fallout of the Akintola and Awolowo rivalry, serve as a poignant reminder of the catastrophic consequences that can arise when political pettiness spirals into chaos.
“The phrase “The Wild Wild West” not only signifies an era of tumult but serves as a cautionary warning for present-day Nigeria.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo asserts that Nigeria’s democratic framework teeters on the brink of peril. We call upon all Nigerians, as well as advocates of democracy, to ensure that the current Speakership tussle does not deteriorate into a situation reminiscent of the 1965 crisis that culminated in the collapse of Nigeria’s First Republic and the subsequent disintegration of democratic governance in 1966.”
The statement also condemned the deployment of security forces, including the DSS and police, to the Lagos House of Assembly on February 17, 2025, describing it as a stark reminder of the fragility of Nigeria’s democracy.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo urged all political actors in Lagos to resolve their differences peacefully, warning that failure to do so could plunge the state into deeper political turmoil.
