The leading Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called on all Igbos residing in Lagos State to remain neutral in the ongoing political conflict 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 similar to the notorious 1965 “Operation Wetie” political turmoil in the old Western Region.
In a statement signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Deputy President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the organization emphasized that the battle for the Lagos Speakership is not just a political struggle but also a high-stakes contest over the state’s significant financial resources, including Value Added Tax, taxation, and rental revenues.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo also warned of intelligence reports indicating attempts to involve Igbo residents in the crisis. The group cautioned that any such involvement could further deepen ethnic divisions and inflame tensions. It stressed the importance of Igbos resisting any pressure to take sides in the dispute, citing the historical consequences of similar political crises in Nigeria.
The statement noted that intelligence had revealed efforts to manipulate Igbo communities into supporting one political faction, warning that such tactics were designed to escalate tensions and exacerbate the ethnicization of the conflict. The group urged all Igbo residents of Lagos to avoid becoming embroiled in these factional disputes.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo also reflected on Nigeria’s political history, reminding political actors of the dangerous fallout from the rivalry between Akintola and Awolowo in the old Western Region between 1961 and 1965. The group warned that the current situation could spiral into a similar disaster if not handled carefully.
The organization further condemned the use of security forces, including the DSS and police, at the Lagos State House of Assembly on February 17, 2025. Ohanaeze Ndigbo described the deployment as a stark reminder of the fragility of Nigeria’s democracy.
Finally, the group urged all political actors in Lagos to seek peaceful resolution to their differences, warning that failure to do so could lead the state into deeper political instability.
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.”
