Jimi Agbaje comes under fire over ‘tribal bigotry’

Lagos state gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Jimi Agbaje, stirred a bit of controversy on social media, after he campaigned with a sensitive situation that happened on 2015, before the last election in the state.

In 2015, Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, reportedly said that Igbos, living in Lagos should vote for the then governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Akinwunmi Ambode, or perish in the lagoon.

The statement back then, caused a lot of uproar on and off social media, as Nigerians took their turns to criticise the Oba, over it.

However, Agbaje, who was also the PDP’s candidate for that election, which he lost to the APC candidate now governor of Lagos – – in a bid to appeal to the conscience of the Igbos, has now dug up the statement, as a campaign strategy.

He said:

On Lagos and the Igbos: The narrative that Lagos dislikes the Igbos is extremely false.

Oh yes, Lagos does not dislike the Igbos, your political establishment does. The royal utterance of 2015 is still fresh on the mind of the entire electorate.

This route taken by Agbaje, has rather than appeal to the conscience of people, has however caused them to criticise the strategy.

See some reactions from Nigerians

Ị really thought you learned a few things last time around…but I am wrong, you learned nothing. Leave the sideshows and focus on issues. Don't remind us how the current govt failed, show us how and why you will not fail.

— Ig Izuchukwu Agulefo (@Izuchuxy) December 12, 2018

Igbo baiting as strategy is dead on arrival. Face the issues and challenges of Lagos. Outline plans for tackling them. Igbos will not be pawns on the political chess board of Lagos. We are just citizens and will vote as such. Get a life and a strategy, JK.

— Chido Nwakanma (@ChidoNigeria) December 12, 2018

The man does not know how to campaign. 3 times doing the same thing yet expecting different outcome. Even Buhari had to do the unthinkable to get to Aso Rock not what he did 3 previous times

— Olabisi Michael (@bisimichaelng) December 11, 2018

Is it that @OfficialPDPNigLagos Chapter don't have money to hire a trained political and campaign strategist for @jimiagbaje or what?
Egbon,why do you keep digging deep into your political grave ?
You will vote for @jidesanwoolu last last.

— eguando tone jeff (@teguando1) December 12, 2018

For 4 years instead of you meeting with people, communities to do door to door campaign and engage people to sell your ideas to them you were silence and docile. Nw you are back to poison people's mind with tribal issue.U are too weak to rule Lagos bros. start with house of reps

— ALEXIS (@AlexisWifi) December 12, 2018

This was ill advised. The Igbo votes alone cannot make you the governor and it is dangerous to play up divisive issues like this for elections. You will drive the Yorubas away from your candidacy. Most of us Love the King even though we condemned his comments then.

— FashfromEgba (@noafasina) December 12, 2018