Don’t fall for ‘sweet-talks’ of Lagos APC, CENTAA group tells Igbo

A group, Coalition of Ethnic Nationalities Agenda for Atiku (CENTAA), has warned the Igbo community in Lagos State not to fall for what it termed the “sweet talks” being reeled out by the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Babajide Sanwoolu, ahead of the 2019 elections in the state, saying that the APC was used to sweet- talking the electorate and the use and dump style as it had been part of them over the years.

But the group quickly said the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr Jimi Agbaje, who since 2015 had held the Igbo title of Ezi Nwanne Ndigbo 1, would not disappoint the South-Easterners if elected next governor of Lagos.

CENTAA gave this counsel at the weekend in a statement issued and signed by its Executive Secretary, Adeoye Jolaosho, in reaction to a statement made by Sanwoolu made while being honoured with an Igbo chieftaincy title at the National Stadium, Lagos recently.

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The APC governorship candidate was said to have pledged that an Igbo man would one day be governor in Lagos State.

“APC will sweet-talk you, then use and dump you, as they have done to many people. Learn from them. Learn from your kinsman Ben Akabueze. Learn from Okada motorcycle operators. Learn from Afenifere. Learn from Iya Olojas. Learn from industrialists, commoners and the uncountable individuals and groups whose trust these APC people have betrayed,” CENTAA said.

The group warned that Lagos APC would only end up disappointing non-indigenes, reminding that Igbo slot of commissionership was withdrawn by the APC government as punishment for massively voting PDP in the last polls, which took place in 2015.

According to CENTAA, then occupier, Ben Akabueze, a banker was appointed Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget by the Lagos State Government in 2007 to 2015 but was dropped with no Igbo man making the cabinet thereafter.

“Simply put, these people do not believe in anyone but themselves and anyone who will sell his soul to satisfy their selfishness,” CENTAA said, adding: “These leopards cannot change their skin. Pharaoh will always be Pharaoh–manipulative, vindictive, selfish, inconsiderate, merciless and cunning.”

The group, while assuring that Agbaje, who holds the title of Ezi Nwanne Ndigbo 1 since 2015 would not disappoint Igbo, pledged that: “Not only will PDP appoint Igbo people and other non-indigenes as commissioners in their cabinet come 2019, but they will get bored as well as special adviser positions.

“And you can take that to the bank. Those who know him know that his word is his bond,” it added.

“APC leaders are notorious for using and dumping people. Now that they want your votes, they are singing sweet nothings into your ears.

“But continue to play along, until Election Day when you will teach these serial betrayers the lesson of their life and use your votes to push them out of power democratically,” CENTAA said.