The Igbo Women Assembly (IWA), a socio-political pressure group affiliated with Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has strongly criticized the Lagos State government for mandating the teaching of only Yoruba in public schools.
At a press briefing in Umuahia on Thursday, IWA’s national president, Nneka Chimezie, expressed concern over the policy, arguing that it is inappropriate for a cosmopolitan state like Lagos, which is home to diverse ethnic groups.
“They should make it inclusive—Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba should all be taught,” Chimezie stated.
IWA also vowed to take legal action against Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration if the policy is not revised.
Preserving the Igbo Language
While criticizing Lagos’ language policy, Chimezie commended the Yoruba for their commitment to preserving their native tongue. She called on Igbo people to intensify efforts to safeguard their own language from extinction.
To promote this cause, IWA announced plans to celebrate International Mother Language Day on February 21 in Umuahia. The event will gather notable Igbo figures to discuss strategies for revitalizing the Igbo language.
“We are coming together to deliberate on the survival of our language. A roundtable discussion will be held, and a communique will be issued afterward,” Chimezie stated.
Concerns Over Extra-Judicial Killings in Anambra
Beyond the language debate, Chimezie also urged Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo to regulate the activities of Agunechemba, a local vigilante group accused of extra-judicial killings.
“When arrests are made, suspects should be handed over to the police for proper investigation and prosecution, rather than being summarily executed. There has been too much bloodshed in the South-East,” she warned.
NIGERIANS REACT
I don’t know who this Ibo woman is, but she had better get a well-educated person to educate her on the rights of the Lagos State government to determine educational policies in the state. Kano State has hausa as a compulsory subject in schools. Why did the Igbos not sue the Kano State Government with the high population of Igbos in Kano? Anambra State Government has made Igbo compulsory in the state as well. These are all precedents, and Kano is as cosmopolitan as Lagos.
This is why the indigenes of Lagos and Yorubas do not like the Igbos. They are after Lagos due to the location by the Port to conduct their illicit clearing & forwarding business for import and export of all sorts of fake and substandard products.
Why are they not pushing for rights in Kano?
It’s time the Lagos State House of Assembly takes up a position on Igbos in Lagos. They must lose their voting rights and land ownership but may trade if they wish to remain in Lagos. Their lands should be leasehold only to be reviewed periodically. If the House of Assembly fails to act now, these people will continue to take steps to challenge the Yorubas authority and jurisdiction over Lagos. We must act to preserve not only our language and culture but our rights, especially civic rights as Yorubas and our territory. We are descendants of Oduduwa, we must not be caught napping. It’s better to show these people the way out now using our intellect and traditional intelligence.
This woman must sue Lagos State Governor or she is a bastard so that she will know her worth in Lagos and relocate to Anambra her hometown. Imagine, Anambra State made Igbo language compulsory and she is now agitating against Lagos State doing the same. She probably isn’t aware of that – another ignorant Igbo troublemaker!!!!
Prof. Ifatunbi Obatefa.
Ifa traditional leader, Professor of Yoruba Language and Culture.
These Igbo people will never learn. Can’t they stay in Lagos quietly and do their trading and fake products until NAFDAC, NDLEA, or EFCC catches them on their way in or out?
All they want from Lagos is the population to buy and the port and airport for their smuggling business- drugs, and China products. They are always problematic. Lagos is yorubaland and Yoruba language must be preserved now. All SouthWest States must make Yoruba mandatory in all schools from nursery. This is how we will preserve our culture. This madwoman now wants to sue Sanwo- Olu for making our own language compulsory? She is not well. Igbo kwenu! Let her try it. I hope she will try it Oooo. Please try it. Then your people will suffer what they are due to experience all this time. If she doesn’t sue, I will be so disappointed. It’s good when Igbos challenge us in our own territory as this will make us make decisions we should have taken a long time ago on them.
May Allah grant us the wisdom, courage, and strength to tackle this hydraheaded monster called ndigbo in Lagos. They will leave Lagos as they left Lagos before the Civil War, just that this time, we won’t allow them to return. Enough is enough.
We will pray, we will do all that is necessary to send Igbos away from Lagos gently. Awon omo irankiran.
Alhaja Shukrat Bello.
Iya Adinni Muslimi .
Igbos must return to the jungle they came from. Why must they remain in a region if they are not wanted? They are always behind all problems to challenge our government. They wanted to leave Nigeria, so let them go please. Nobody is stopping them. Let them leave. How can this woman say she will sue Governor of Lagos State for making our language compulsory in our schools? What did she smoke or drink before making that statement? Who is she? Is she educated at all?
Who is her father? A woman with no pedigree is talking rubbish about education policy in Lagos? I believe she is just seeking attention. She is giving the Igbo people a bad name again. They had better disassociate themselves from her.
Well done Sanwo-Olu. Other Governors in the SouthWest must do the same immediately. We need to be united and work together for the progress of Yorubaland, Yoruba race ,Yoruba language and Yoruba Culture. We must start working on this seriously now because of these ethnic minorities trying to grow wings so we can cut all their wings patapata. Owo ti ogede ba gbe o ma fi na ara re niiii Ooo.
They will use their heads to walk out of Yorubaland if need be.
Abi won nsiere ni?In Yoruba land?Dem no well for head. katikati.
Awon people yi tiyawere oooo, se awalelo protest ni east ni abi ayen sewon ni
But in the east land it is igbo
In the North it is hausa
In the federal government colleges it is the three ,which students will chose from.
Yoruba Paramount Traditional Ruler
