Dr. Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, President of the socio-cultural group Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State, has accused the state government of disenfranchising Igbos from voting and participating in the ongoing local government elections held across Lagos on July 12.
Speaking from his residence in Ikoyi, Aguene expressed deep dissatisfaction with the continual exclusion of Igbo politicians from both voting rights and the opportunity to contest for local government positions in Lagos.
“Did you know that Igbo residents in Lagos are routinely denied the right to vote? This is not new; it happens every election cycle. They are also barred from contesting for local government chairmanship and councillorship roles. Despite our significant contributions to the economic and political development of Lagos, we continue to be treated unfairly. There are only one or two Igbos serving as Vice Chairmen in local governments,” he stated.
Aguene further criticized the state of democracy in Nigeria, emphasizing that true democracy should promote equity, justice, and fairness.
“It is clear that we do not have real democracy in Nigeria. What we have is a system where opportunists seize power and rule without regard for fairness. Voter apathy in Lagos and across Nigeria stems from frustration with these opportunists.
Igbos are major investors in Lagos and should be given fair opportunities to hold political positions. Governance in Nigeria seems reserved for a few, while many Nigerians—including the working class, journalists, and security personnel—struggle to make ends meet. The current situation in Nigeria is dire,” he added.
