Shittu Ademola Afobaje

You Can’t Stop Igbos From Contesting for Governorship in Lagos — Prof. Sam Amadi Insists Former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Prof. Sam Amadi, has insisted that Nigerians should be free to seek political office anywhere in the country, regardless of their ethnic background, stressing that Igbos have the right to contest for the highest positions in Lagos. Speaking on issues of citizenship, integration and national unity, Amadi warned against treating any ethnic group as second-class citizens in Nigeria. “You cannot tell Igbos that they should not vie for the biggest office in Lagos because they are not Yoruba people. That’s an error,” he said. According to him, the principle of common citizenship means every Nigerian enjoys equal rights across the country. “The idea of common citizenship is that we are all citizens of Nigeria. We can’t be less citizen in Sokoto,” he stated. Amadi, however, distinguished between cultural rights and legal rights, arguing that while non-indigenes may not lay claim to traditional institutions in their host communities, they retain full political and civic rights. “An Igbo man who has built his business, who says ‘I want to represent Apapa,’ has a right. And the people have a right to choose him or not,” he said. He urged young Igbos not to live in fear of backlash while pursuing legitimate opportunities and political aspirations. “We should be wise, respectful and tolerant, but we must be assertive. We must be clear that we are part of Nigeria,” Amadi said, adding that national integration cannot succeed if citizens are discouraged from feeling a sense of belonging outside their ethnic homelands. The former NERC boss also lamented what he described as growing perceptions of ethnic discrimination among young Nigerians, saying many feel opportunities are determined by tribe rather than merit.

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