Awka and Lagos — The Lagos State government has said that the seven day ultimatum by former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, to the state government to apologize to the 67 persons allegedly deported from the state has a political undertone.

The state government said the issue of deportation of some people as reported in some national dailies and social media is one of the several attempts by enemies of the state to discredit the good works of the Babatunde Fashola administration.

Speaking with Daily Trust, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, said, "The report is an attempt to give the state government a bad name in the eyes of the public. The report was fabricated. You know 2015 is fast approaching, our enemies are looking for one issue or the other to smear the good works of our government. We understand their game plan and we would not fall for them. We would continue the good work and make Lagos worth living for everybody".

Ibirogba berated Kalu over his threat to sue Fashola on the issue, saying, "What is expected of him is to join hands with indigenes of Abia who are working round the clock to develop the state".

He added, "We are not surprised at the outburst of Uzor Kalu because not quite long ago, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, also attempted to rubbish the good work being done in Lagos State. We would not respond to them because we remain focus and we are more concerned about taking Lagos to the next level of development."

The former governor had on Monday in a statement said that he would go to court to defend the interest of the alleged deportees if Governor Babatunde Fashola fails to apologize to them within seven days.

Kalu described the action of the state government as "lawless and vexatious and capable of threatening the corporate existence of the country".

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Onitsha branch has frowned over the alleged dumping of people at Onitsha from Lagos State, describing the development as "internal deportation of helpless Nigerians". Speaking after their monthly general meeting yesterday, Mr Dennis Maduachesi and Steve Ononye, chairman and secretary of the union in a statement said, "It is sad that at the level of development in Nigeria when governments are building bridges of relationship, a government will be involved in such act".