Don't Let Them Ruin Us

I woke up to much fury on social media as a result of some incisive statements the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, allegedly made. According to several newspaper reports, he was alleged to have insisted that the Igbos residing in Lagos State must vote for APC gubernatorial candidate Akinwunmi Ambode, or face his royal wrath and then he more or less condemned them to death if they failed to vote for his candidate. For my non-Nigerian readers, here in Nigeria we have several tribes out of which the most prominent three are the Yorubas, Igbos and Hausas. Lagos is a western state belonging to the Yorubas but it is the hub of most activities in Nigeria and as such home to many tribes, Nationals and religions even. So can you now imagine the gravity of an Oba (i.e. A royal father) allegedly uttering such a hate speech in a state where all tribes live peacefully as one? 

Despite these heavily allegations and its nature, I would have thought that people would take time to verify accurately and then digest the implications better. Alas, this was not the case as I read so many people's opinions stemmed out of quick and ferocious anger. To be honest, in as much as I empathize with the Igbos and how rough they had it from the Biafra war, I would have thought it would take far more than an Oba's giddy comments to incite such bile that may bring about another war. 

Let me make something clear, war is terrible. It is not what you want to go through at all, and if you doubt me, by all means Google up the stories and pictures from the Biafran war and also from the tribal war between the Hutus and Tutsis of Rwanda! There are no words I can conjure up right now to describe the horrors of war. No matter what anyone says to rile you, you do not want to tow the path of war so please stay calm and be reasonable.

Also, this whole saga stinks of propaganda and if indeed it is propaganda from the opposition, dare I say "well played", because clearly they read Nigerians so right as to know for sure that the response to releasing such a statement would be rash and definitely detrimental to the candidate the Oba has endorsed. 

I want to implore all well-meaning and reasonable Nigerians especially the Igbos to kindly ignore what this Oba has supposedly said. If indeed he said it, believe me, he is on his with such vile talks. Those utterances do not reflect the stance of the majority at all. I would expect that Akinwunmi Ambide would distance himself from such destructive statements and I really hope people would think clearly enough not to let this Oba's words impact negatively on this gubernatorial candidate.

I perceive that some people are using the divide and rule tactic on us, but the joke would be on us if we actually let them succeed in dividing us with such awful propaganda. Let us not not stoop to conquer, lest we be just like those whom we condemn. By rambling without reasoning thoroughly, we would be giving them the satisfaction and perverse pleasure they thrive on from our squabbles.  Think about it.