The Supreme Council of Eze Ndigbo Lagos, has called for the immediate and unconditional release of their colleague Eze Chinedu Mozie who was arrested by policemen in the state.
Eze Mozie is currently being and detained at the SCIID Panti, Lagos after the Saturday 18, 2023 gubernatorial and House Assembly elections.
The Council described the elections as one of the worst elections ever conducted in the annals of Nigeria.
The Council made of Ezes Dr. Vincent Iwobi, Eze Ndi Igbo Shasha and Obi Anioma of Lagos, Chukwu Akalika Madu, Eze Ndigbo Oriade, Jude Nnaemeka Arinze, Eze Ndigbo Okota/Isolo, Dr. John Nwosu,
Eze Ndigbo and Asiwaju Ndigbo Mushin and Chukwuemeka Sylvanus Onuaha, Eze Ndigbo Iba said their detained colleague had earlier hinted on threat to life by some Yoruba extraction in his community on the need to stay off the street on the election day because any Igbo speaking tribe who comes out for the purpose of casting his vote on the day would be severely dealt with.
Speaking on behalf of the Ezes, Eze Dr. Vincent Iwobi who doubles as the Vice Chairman of the Supreme Council of Eze Ndigbo Lagos State said the Council was reliably informed that, “On Saturday March 18, 2023, Eze Mozie went out as the leader of Igbo community in Ibasa River-rine to exercise his constitutional right of franchise; in the cause of doing that, he was accosted by the Oba of Ibasa River-rine who bluntly told him that the Igbos are no longer allowed to participate in any electoral process in Lagos State; that it is an order from above.
Eze Mozie told him that he has the constitutional right as a tax payer in the state to exercise his voting right in his place of domicile. This explanation fell on deaf ears as the Oba authorized the youths of the community together with masquerades to resist the Igbo community led by Eze Mozie from casting their votes by manhandling them. In a twinkle of an eye, it degenerated into physical exchange of blows wherein, cudgels, broken bottles, cutlasses and all manners of weapons including guns were used by the Oba and the people he came with against Eze Mozie and the Igbo community.
Consequently, Eze Mozie tried to defend himself to avoid being lynched and ran into the Palace of the same Oba who immediately summoned the Police to effect his arrest and he is presently being detained at the SCIID Panting even as he was profusely bleeding from
all parts of his body as a result of the injuries sustained.
Suffice it to mention that it is an inalienable right of every Nigerian to reside in his place of choice in the country. We passionately appeal that his Excellency, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to treat this matter with the urgency it demands and get the detained Eze release forthwith to avoid further breakdown of law and order.