Alleged ‘deportation’: Fashola meets with Igbo group, clears air

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Friday received in audience a leading Igbo socio-political group, ‘Aka Ikenga”debunking the suggestions of discrimination, deportation or violation of rights against Anambra citizens.

Governor Fashola, who addressed the group, led by its President, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, said there was no truth in the allegation or suggestion of deportation, discrimination or violation of rights of Anambra indigenes by the Lagos State Government as alleged by the Anambra State Government.

“I want to use this opportunity to say that none of these suggestions of discrimination or violation of rights is true. I don’t know how I could set out to deport Anambrarians and look Ben (Akabueze Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning) in the eye; because that is his state and he is a member of this government and there are no decisions that we take in private that are not discussed extensively and if there are very sensitive issues there, his advice has been very useful”, the governor said.

According to the governor, “These issues have been raised in a politically coloured atmosphere and in a way that seeks to incite our Igbo brothers against their host communities in the run up to the Anambra governorship election”.

He added, “The impression sought to be created is that Lagos has adopted a discriminatory policy against the Ndigbo generally and against the Anambra people in particular”.

He also debunked the suggestion that there were 72 Anambra persons involved in the alleged deportation pointing out that there were only 14 persons who were taken home to Onitsha at their own request after they were rehabilitated at the state’s rehabilitation centre at Majidun.

He declared, “I think that there are facts which have been over-exaggerated and distorted and I want to address those facts. The fact was that 14 people, not 70, not 72, not 67, as were being reported, were picked up on our streets as part of a routine exercise and we took them to Majidun Rehabilitation Centre, not a detention camp as has been published and you can go there and see”.

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