Deportation of Igbo from Lagos: Kalu threatens to sue Fashola
I have been inundated with several calls since I left Nigeria for an international assignment in Zimbabwe on how the Lagos State Government deported 67 Igbo to Onitsha in Anambra State.
Initially, I didn't believe the story that any governor could package some Igbo like cartons of expired products and dump them under the Upper Iweka Flyover Bridge in Onitsha until I read it and saw the defence of one of the Special Advisers of Governor Babatunde Fashola on why the Igbo were deported in their fathers' land.
The first question to ask is: has it come to this?
It is an open secret that the Igbo contribute about 55 per cent to Lagos State economy.
There is no law which empowers a state or governor to deport any Nigerian to any part of the country.
The Right to Freedom of Movement in Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, reads: “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby, or exit therefrom.”
It is appalling to learn that the deported Igbo were even detained in Ikorodu for about six months before their illegal deportation. They were taken to Onitsha in four buses, escorted by anti-riot policemen.
One of them, Osondu Mbuto, a trader from Ohaozara in Ebonyi State, was on his way to his shop on December 18, 2012 when he was arrested by officials of the state Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and detained for no reason until he was deported in his father's land.
The reaction of the state government that the Igbo were deported to reunite them with their families was the worst insult to any race.
Governor Fashola's Special Adviser on Youths and Social Development, Dr. Enitan Dolapo Badru, said: “The end result is to reunite them back with their families”.
What an affront against the collective will of Ndigbo or any other race in Nigeria to live and do business in any part of the country?
The action of the state government is not only wicked but a clear breach of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. To worsen the matter, most of those deported are not even indigenes of Anambra State. Is Anambra State now a dumping ground for any act of illegality? Is Lagos State Government above the law of the country? If not, can it operate another set of laws without recourse to constitution amendment? Is it not a travesty of justice that officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) were even used for this illegal act against the Nigerian state? Was the supervising officer, who allowed the deployment of the policemen, not told that they were going to be used for the deportation of Nigerians they were paid by tax payers' money to protect in their fathers' land?
The action is a gross infraction to the rights of the deportees to dwell in any part of Nigeria without discrimination. With this wicked, crude and primitive deportation, I just wonder why a component unit of Nigeria, under the authority and supremacy of a Constitution (grund norm), would choose to be lawless in such an unconstitutional conduct. Not even under the military would such an action have happened.
Even if a criminal offence was committed, the place to take them to is the court, not for them to be deported.
The action of the Lagos State Government is lawless as it is vexatious and I condemn it in strong terms because it threatens the existence of our country. All patriotic Nigerians should say no to this xenophobic action of Lagos State Government because it usurps the powers of the Federal Government and disregards our Constitution.
I demand a public apology from the governor within seven days to all those illegally deported and a repeat of such an act must be stopped or I will head to court to defend the interest of the Ndigbo in Lagos. Enough is enough.
His Excellency, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu
Former Governor, Abia State
Dr OUK, irrespective of what Nigerians say about you to gain selfish, political favors, I want to humbly use this medium to acknowledge the good works you're doing to protect the Igbo race. For a while, I've been following the activities of the "njiko igbo" movements and your visits to the Uk. Gov Fashola needs to publicly apologise to the generality of the Igbo race because such an action is evil and demonic and should be condemned in the strongest way possible. The Igbos have contributed in no little way to the development of Lagos State and other States of the Federation and I dnt understand why the Igbo race is always at the receiving end of injustice in Nigeria. If their stores and shops are not burnt, they are are killed or arrested unjustly. ENOUGH is ENOUGH... Nigerian leaders must begin to behave in a Pan-Nigerian way as examplified by our hero DR Nnamdi Azikiwe. President Jonathan must also look into the matter. For now, we can only continue to pray that Almighty God continue to bless and protect we the Igbos and the generality of Nigerians; AMEN. AMARA (Sirjay360@yahoo.com)
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