Osun State government and the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday accused Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State of playing politics with the lives of the destitute evacuated from Lagos State.
The state Acting Chairman of the APC, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, and the Special Adviser to the governor on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Hon. Biyi Odunlade, said at a joint press conference in Osogbo that: “Osun State government is also a victim of the Lagos State government’s policy on evacuation of the destitute to their various states.”
They then warned the Anambra State government against politicising the issue. They said: “What the government of Anambra State did by reporting and distorting facts to President Goodluck Jonathan is unfortunate if not a deliberate political move meant to lay a foundation for something sinister that Governor Obi’s All Progressives Alliance, APGA, is plotting over the upcoming governorship election in the state that APGA may well lose.
“For them to now turn around seeking help from the President to sanction Lagos State for being humane enough to look after Igbo destitute in Lagos is the height of ingratitude which does not speak well of those Igbo that have been making unnecessary noise about the incident.” Also, Odunlade said there was no bitterness or any sensation about the evacuation of the destitute.
He said: “It is routine administrative process, that when you have a destitute on your hand, without home or family, and after doing your best for them you send them to their people.
“In Osun, we have similar programme of clearing the streets of beggars and the destitute. Those that can be empowered are given the needed assistance to be on their own. We are also going to resettle them one way or the other.”
The special adviser said that from April 27, 2010 till now, about 135 indigenes of Osun State had been moved from Lagos to the state. He said: “Similarly, the state government had equally received two persons each who were indigenes of the state from Ogun and Ondo states on April 16, last year while four persons were also sent from Oyo State to the state in June this year.”
Also, Adebiyi warned the Anambra State government to bury its anger on the matter and stop turning the issue into a serious political matter because of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
He said: “Young Igbo should be careful about what they say because incisive statements could cause so much problems for harmony between them and the Yoruba nation that could impact unfavourably for national unity which is the progressives in APC all over Nigeria are doing their best to promote.
“People of Anambra State who were misinformed about the matter should please be responsible enough to cross-check facts before they make incisive statements that could cause disunity and ill-feelings between Igbo and Yoruba and thousands of other citizens who are living in Lagos without rancour.”
