Fashola Defends Expulsion Of Igbo Distitutes

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said only 14, not 72, destitutes of South East extraction were recently returned to Anambra State by his government.
The governor who made the clarification while receiving members of Aka Ikenga, an Igbo socio-political group at the Government House, Ikeja, said the number had been played up in the media to provoke ethnic and political sentiments, adding that the return of the persons was not political but was for re-integration.
Fashola explained that the affected people were not dumped in Onitsha as reported, stating that they were picked up from the streets, rehabilitated and returned to the South East -based on their own request.
The governor explained that the Anambra State Government was properly notified of the movement of the destitute persons and the state‘s Liaison office even asked for the details of the people to be moved
He said it was regrettable that Gov. Peter Obi and other critics of the action had misunderstood the state government‘s intention; and the action was taken in the interest of the affected persons.
Fashola said Lagos State thrived on its diversity and had been home to people from across the country for decades.
The governor urged those aggrieved by the action to show understanding, saying it was not done with any ethnic or political colouration.
The President of the group, Mr Goddy Nwazurike, who led members to Fashola‘s office, said the development was disturbing especially as the state had accommodated many Igbos for years.
While saying some people had capitalised on the issue to score political points, Nwazurike pledged that the group would do everything possible to calm nerves that might been frayed by the matter.