Ohanaeze has debunked claims of a conflict between Yorubas and Igbos, condemning as “political rascals” those behind the intimidation and disenfranchisement of Igbos during the 2023 governorship election in Lagos. 

Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the Chairman Council of Elders of Ohanaeze, made this statement in Akwa, on Saturday, at the one year in office anniversary of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State. 

“I want to tell those in Lagos to realise that there is no war between us and Yorubas. They are with us,” Mr Iwuanyanwu said. 

Condemning those behind toxic ethic slur against Igbos in Lagos, the chairman of the Ohanaeze elders council, said “they are just political rascals, and we’re going to handle them.”

He added that, “We have resolved that never again can we allow anybody to take the life of any innocent person. All of us are going to fight the person. Never again!”

Mr Iwuanyanwu’s statement comes a week after the Lagos governorship election, which was marred by voters intimidation, violence and ethic slurs.

Before election, Musiliu ‘MC Oluomo Akinsanya, a notorious All Progressives Congress (APC) thug in Lagos had threatened Igbos who will not vote the APC to stay indoors. The Nigerian police would go ahead to dismiss the threat of MC Oluomo as a joke.

In crude enforcment of MC Oluomo’s threat on the morning of election day, APC thugs roamed the streets of Lagos warning citizens who will not vote for their party to stay indoors.

After the election, Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for President-elect Bola Tinubu took to Twitter to push toxic anti-Igbo slurs, calling for total exclusion of Igbos from the politics of Lagos, Nigeria’ commercial and cosmopolitan city.

Condemned for his divisive statement, Mr Onanuga doubled down on his position, calling Igbos “existential threats to Yorubas”. Contrary to Mr Onanuga’s stance, the Igbos and Yorubas have co-existed peacefully for decades in Lagos and other parts of the country.