The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has condemned the alleged attacks on Igbo indigenes in Lagos State.
A statement issued by the coalition on Saturday night by the President General of the coalition, Goodluck Ibem alleged that the burning of Akere spare parts market in Lagos State was a direct attack on the Igbo traders.
Properties worth millions of Naira were lost a few days ago, following the fire incident alleged to have been orchestrated by suspected political thugs.
Reacting to the unfortunate incident, COSEYL said it was “unfortunate that innocent traders who are not politicians and have nothing to do with politics are subjected to unprovoked attacks at all times.
“We have Yorubas in South East doing their businesses and no one has ever discriminated against them or attacked them, the group claimed”.
The coalition alleged that the development followed the move by most Igbos to support the Labour Party governorship candidate in the state, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour who was said to be partly Igbo for the March 18 elections.
It, however, said such discrimination has never been recorded in the Southeast, stressing that some Yoruba people were allowed to run for elective posts in the region.
“The Labour Party, LP, House of Assembly candidate in Umuahia Central State Constituency of Abia State by name Mr Anthony Abiola is a Yoruba boy and nobody is discriminating against him because he is not of Igbo origin.
“It has never happened in South East because we are peace-loving and very accommodating people. We accept strangers as our own brothers and sisters. Yorubas living in South East can attest to it”, the statement added
