Dr. Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a sociocultural group in Lagos State, has denounced the way members of the Igbo community are being denied the right to vote in the state’s current local government elections.
Aguene further claimed that Lagos State lacks democracy and voiced his displeasure at Igbo politicians’ inability to cast ballots and be elected representatives in every election. In his remarks regarding the exercise’s conduct at his home in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Saturday, he made this clear.
He claims that the Igbo are denied the right to vote in every election cycle in Lagos State.
“Do you know that the Igbo that are resident in Lagos state are denied the opportunity to vote? This is not just happening in this election; it occurs during every cycle of election. Igbo residents in the state are not given the opportunity to contest for local Government Chairmanship and councillorship positions. Despite our contribution to the economic and political growth of the state, we are being treated unfairly. There are one or two Igbo persons as Vice Chairmen of Local Governments.
“It is therefore safe to conclude that we don’t have democracy in Nigeria, because democracy promotes equity, justice and fairness. What we have is opportunists grabbing power and ruling. There is voter apathy in Lagos and Nigeria because Nigerians are tired of voting for opportunists
“Igbos are the ones investing heavily in Lagos. They are supposed to be given the opportunity to hold some positions in the state. Governance in Nigeria is just for the few as many Nigerians are really suffering. The working class including journalists and security officers whose profession are essential cannot even work and shelter for their families. The situation in Nigeria is terrible.”
