Senator Ogunleye in an interview.
Senator Ogunleye has, during an open interview on his opinion regarding the continuous demolition of Igbo-owned multimillion Naira worth of properties by the Lagos State government, Warned his Yorubas brothers stop pushing Igbos to the wall.
In a reply to a question about Igbos weakness and possibility of leaving Lagos, Ogunleye said, “It’s a daydreaming, even anybody that is thinking like that is not facing reality. I was born in Lagos Island, 8 Okoya street. I went to Saint.Patrick Primary school, so I Know the composition of the community. I know when everybody started to come to Lagos, and I know what it’s now. Even now, we have four houses in Lagos Island. All of them have been taken over by non-Yoruba speaking people, and they are predominant.”
He gave some examples of leaders and countries where state of origin or nationality does no longer matter in terms of state rights and political leadership.
“An election is just about numbers, so how was it possible for Obama, who is from Kenya, to be the president of the US? Or the present mayor of England who is a Muslim?” Senator Ogunleye explained.
“If the character of the demography of a community changes, there is hardly anything you can do. They will take over from you. It’s just a matter of time. No matter the struggle, we can re-strategies and give them a portion but if they say they are going to be zero it’s a waste of time. And I’ve been an advocate of this thing for the past 30 years because I grew up with them. I went to school with them. I know their capabilities, I know their tendencies and I know their unity of purpose more than us. I know their focus, and I know they can defeat us if we are not careful. I don’t have any doubt at all.
“What I can say, where they are predominant, let’s leave it for them. You cannot defeat them. Even if you harass them, they are a lot more aggressive than us. I just saw some touts disturbing them. If they attack you, you are gone. Don’t push them to the wall, because they are not like us. Their own upbringing is fight to finish. They have gone through it before, so don’t push them to the wall.”
Then, he pleaded with Yorubas to understand that Igbos are now part of the Yoruba land and should be allowed to coexist peacefully with them. “My people, I’m part and parcel of you but we have allowed them which is normal,” he said.
“But sir please, clarify then,” interrupted a female interviewer.
Mr. Ogunleye paused briefly and then he continued, “Non-Yoruba speaking, non-indigene , South South people we grew up with them. Southeast people we grew up with them, Arewa people, North Central, North West, Kwara. How can you talk about the demography of Lagos, even our food how do you talk about Tuwo or the Igbo food? They brought them.You know we are with them, we are part and parcel of them. There should be no discrimination in Whatever form. And I’m appealing to our people, don’t push this thing too much.”
And again, trying to know the stand of his political part, PDP, on the matter another question was thrown at him by the interviewer. “But sir, PDP has been planning for some of these tensions?” asked the Journalist.
“How is this possible?” Senator Ogunleye responded. “5 of our candidates are Igbos. House of Assembly, six wards in Agege are predominant in our people. There is no way you will bring a Yoruba candidate, and you will not win an election there.” Senator Ogunleye Warns Yorubas, Stop pushing them to the war, Igbos are only fearing God and seeking peace
Yet, making this a strong point for some clarifications, the second female journalist at the interview said, ”What is the language? Choosing the candidate is not the argument. The argument is the rhetoric of us against them. That divisive rhetoric.”
But, being blunt this time, the senator said, “Know it’s because you don’t want them and we want them. So, that is the argument. How can you talk about Ajengule, and you are talking about Yoruba people? How can you talk about Oju, Alaba, Agbara, and Festac and you are talking about Lagos?
“You know these are accidents of history. You know, when was Fesstac, who was the honourable minister then? How are they predominant in Festac to get allocation. And even they bought up the properties that Yorubas once had. In Festac 80% of properties there are owned by Igbos in Lagos.” (3)
