Over the past few weeks, you would have noticed across the major roads in Lagos – Ikorodu Road and the Third Mainland Bridge – there are banners on the dividers announcing a kaleidoscope of Nigerian successes who count Lagos as either their major influencers or their base.

It’s an exhaustive – and inspiring list – including everyone from Aliko Dangote, through Jimi Agbaje to Funke Akindele. Of course the trio Lagos’ elitist governors make the list – Bola TINUBU, Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode – whose government continues to kill and maim the people who live in Otodo Gbame.

We noticed something weird, apart from the fact of only about six women making the long list. So we took our careful time and went back to both roads and counted each and every of the banners.

We could only find one Igbo person.

There are loads of Yoruba, and some form the North of Nigeria. But across the length and breadth of the list, only one Igbo person – Jim Ovia. And of course there are those that will recall that this token person is actually from Delta, which is South South.

The only other person from the South South or South East is broadcaster, Soni Irabor.

What an amaze.

Not one Igbo person.

In a country where Igbos are powering Surulere. Where Idumota and Alaba and Ladip, where commerce is driven by this same group of Nigerians. A state where all major banks are mostly chaired either by a South Easterner or South Southerner.

Please save us all the silly arguments. This oversight makes no sense, and shows lazy research and lazy thinking.

Fix it.

Op-ed Editor