Igbo assembly condemns Lagos Yoruba language policy, threatens with lawsuit

“Your demand is grossly irresponsible”, Pan Yoruba group

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) has denounced the Lagos government’s decision to exclusively teach Yoruba language in state-owned schools, threatening to take the matter to court.

But in its reaction, the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movement, (AYDM), a coalition of 130 Pan Yoruba and community based groups described the Igbo group as “a grossly irresponsible organisation driven by imperialist agenda to steal what does not belong to them.”

According to IWA’s national president, Nneka Chimezie, the Lagos policy is inappropriate for a cosmopolitan city like Lagos, where people from various tribes coexist.

The AYDM General Secretary, Mr Popoola Ajayi said Enugu, Anambra, Aba and Owerri and many Igbo states are as cosmopolitan as Lagos adding that in all Igbo States, the Igbo language is used as official means of communication.

“The United Kingdom, New York City,London are all cosmopolitan with Chinese, Indians, Mexicans and even native Americans but this has not changed the official English language of these cities and countries. The Igbo group is shallow, less educated and vain. They do not know the meaning of indigenous values in human development,” Ajayi said.

Chimezie argued that the government should adopt a more inclusive approach by teaching multiple languages, including Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba.

But Ajayi said it is curious that the Igbo organisation seems to be speaking the language of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra,(IPOB”

Ajayi said “Lagos is not the capital of Nigeria. The city is Yoruba and was built by Yoruba since the 15th century. It is irresponsible for any group to impose its own views and primitive sentiments on Yoruba people. This was exactly how the Igbo leader, Nnamdi Azikiwe wanted Lagos at all cost. We urge these Igbo people with the spirit of conquest to burry their desperation, their greed, avarice and their penchant to steal what is not theirs.

To promote the Igbo language, IWA will host an event on February 21, coinciding with the United Nations’ Mother Tongue Day.

The event, which will take place in Umuahia, aims to bring together prominent Igbo individuals to discuss strategies for preserving their language.

Furthermore, Chimezie called on Governor Charles Soludo to address the activities of Agunechemba, a vigilance group, and put an end to extra-judicial killings in Anambra.

She emphasized the importance of handing over suspects to the police for proper investigation and prosecution, rather than resorting to killing them.