Renowned author and political commentator, Reno Omokri, has challenged the recent claim by Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President of Ohana’eze Ndi’Igbo, suggesting that Igbos developed Lagos from a swamp.
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Omokri questioned the logic behind the assertion, urging careful consideration of the facts.
Omokri highlighted the disparity in development between Lagos, characterized as a former swamp, and other cities in Igboland such as Enugu, Awka, Nnewi, Aba, Abakaliki, and Owerri, which are not swamps but haven’t seen comparable development.
He posed a rhetorical question, asking why, if Igbos can transform a swamp into a mega city like Lagos, similar efforts haven’t been directed towards developing other cities on dry land into havens.
Expressing his love for the Igbo community, Omokri called for caution in language use, especially by influential figures like Iwuanyanwu, stressing the need for elders to speak in ways that promote national unity. The comments reflect a broader concern about the impact of provocative statements on social cohesion.
Omokri drew attention to the recent incident involving insults directed at the Oba of Benin, emphasizing that such instances undermine the spirit of unity.
He said:
“Does it make sense to say Lagos was a swamp until Igbos developed it to what it is today, when Enugu, Awka, Nnewi, Aba, Abakaliki, Owerri and other cities in Igboland are not swamps, yet Igbos have not developed them like Lagos. If you can develop a swamp into a mega city, why have you not developed dry land into heaven? We love our Igbo brothers and sisters, but Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President of Ohana’eze Ndi’Igbo, should be careful how he talks. We need elders, like Iwuanyanwu, to speak in ways that build unity in our nation. What type of provocative statement is that? That you developed Lagos into what it is today. And these were the same people insulting the Oba of Benin. Did the revered Benin monarch say up to this before one 73-year-old, who should know better, insulted the hell out of him? #TableShaker”
Does it make sense to say Lagos was a swamp until Igbos developed it to what it is today, when Enugu, Awka, Nnewi, Aba, Abakaliki, Owerri and other cities in Igboland are not swamps, yet Igbos have not developed them like Lagos. If you can develop a swamp into a mega city, why… pic.twitter.com/0Vzh9JC2iK
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) December 2, 2023
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
