Igbo: A Clear and Present Danger in Yorubaland.

It is shocking that the Igbo have always refused to support the political interests of the Yoruba people since 1959. Yet half of them live, work and study in Yorubaland. From Surulere to Badagry, every major suburb is dominated by the Igbo. From Coker-Aguda axis Agegunle on the left and Ajao-Isolo-Okota on the right, until Amuwo, Festac, satellite city, Ejigbo, Ikotun etc., are Igbo dominated. Cross to trade fair, and consider all the areas left and right between the Trade Fair and Alaba International, are dominated by the Igbo. The local government of Ojo, Ajangbadi, Iba Estate, Okokomaiko, Afromedia, Agbara Estate and all residential neighbourhoods to Badagry are dominated by the Igbo. These places are at least 1/3 of the state of Lagos, and the population is at least 75% Igbo. Then back to Ikeja, especially Omole Estate, Phase 1 and 2, Magodo, Oworonsoki, Lekki, Ajah etc., these areas have at least 50% to 60% Igbo residents. Yet, the Igbo as a collective continued to support the political interests of the Fulani to prevail over the Yoruba and all other nationalities in Nigeria as President of the country.

Financial, fiscal or social crises in Igboland seem to fuel their movement to Yorubaland as Lagos is perceived as a safe haven with no barriers to entry. The Obafemi Awolowo development of Western region has made living in Yorubaland relatively good value. We stand out as tolerant, culturally sophisticated and uniquely situated for living, working and studying. However, the unregulated movements of Igbo people into Yorubaland have reduced the standard of living of Yoruba citizens and extended Igbo's criminality to our space. If Yoruba really does prove to be the most educated race in Nigeria and wants self-preservation as well as security of life and property of its citizens, residents and visitors, then suburban Lagos and other state capitals in Yorubaland will arrest and deport Igbo immigrants involved in armed robbery, kidnapping, vandalism, piracy, production and distribution of adulterated drugs, prostitution, importation of substandard and prohibited goods, organized crimes, street begging, street trading, human and child trafficking, and child labour.

It is an insult to the young Yoruba to have the same opportunities with immigrants Igbo and other non-Yoruba in Yorubaland. A peaceful Yorubaland is now a means to undermine the interests and well-being of young Yoruba people. Under Nigeria's deficient unitary system, the Igbo transformed Yorubaland into a dumping ground for all sorts of things. They imported into Yorubaland used underwear, bras, panties and clothing. Yoruba people and residents have contacted debilitating diseases, wearing these clothes. The Igbo travelled to China and other countries, imported into Yorubaland substandard drugs. Many Yoruba and residents of Yorubaland are known to have died as a result of fake drugs introduced into Yorubaland by the Igbo. They also imported used spare parts into Yorubaland and are known to have damaged many vehicles within Yorubaland. There is no advantage proportionate to the presence of Igbo in Yorubaland compared to what they received in Yorubaland. They helped turn Yorubaland into a service economy in comparison with the manufacturing economy of the 1960s. The Yoruba people have no substantive political power under our imperfect unitary system to control their space, wealth, human and natural resources.

As long as Nigeria remains a geographical location, political decisions in Yorubaland should aim to protect the welfare and interests of the Yoruba people before others. If Yorubaland is underdeveloped, Igbo will not move in masses on a daily basis. With everything they benefited from Yorubaland, they have continued to support the Fulani's political interests while showing hatred for every full blooded Yoruba political leaders from the time of Awolowo and Akintola, to Abiola and now Tinubu. Our generation is theirs' Waterloo.