Afenifere urges security agencies to arrest those behind the ‘Igbo Must Go’ campaign, assuring Igbos in Lagos of their safety.
the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, has called on security agencies to apprehend those behind the ‘Igbo Must Go’ campaign in Lagos State.
A pro-Lagos government X handle, @Lagospedia, recently posted a message giving Igbos living in Lagos State and other Southwest states one month to relocate their businesses from the region. The post read:
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“Lagosians and every S’West stakeholder should prepare for the massive protest of #IgboMustGo on the 20th – 30th of August. They have 1 month from now to leave and relocate their business from all S’West States. We urge all Yorubas living in the S’East to return home.”
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has since distanced himself and the state government from the campaign, describing it as an attempt to sow discord between the Yoruba in the Southwest and other tribes.
Reacting in a statement on Saturday, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, asked Igbos and other Nigerians living in Yorubaland not to entertain any fear of being forced out of the region.
Dismissing the threat, Afenifere lamented that those behind the provocative campaign were trying to create disaffection among Ndigbo and Yoruba.
The statement read, “Those who are being called to be ousted from the Southwest are bandits and unscrupulous herders who are making life difficult for our farmers and rural women. In this wise, our Igbo brothers and sisters living in Lagos and the Southwest should not entertain any fear of expulsion. We are all Nigerians.
“In view of the serious danger such a call for expulsion poses to peaceful co-existence, Afenifere is hereby calling on the security agencies, Police especially, to round up those behind this unpatriotic move as contained in the quoted LagosPedia post.
“None of them is singled out for harassment. Only people who are criminally minded have reasons to be afraid. And this is not restricted to non-Yoruba people. Whether you are Yoruba or non-Yoruba, if you contravene the laws of the land, you would be appropriately dealt with in accordance with the rule of law. Otherwise, you have no reason to fear at all, whether you are an indigene or non-indigene.
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“It is on record that Lagos State Government, as is the case with other governments in the Southwest, is doing everything possible to provide for the citizens of the state without regard to tribe, religion or any other coloration. It is therefore very insensitive and mischievous of any person or group to come up with any insinuation laden with ethnic hatred especially at this time that tension is high in the country.
“We, along with many other well-meaning Nigerians, had earlier called for restraint concerning the protest. We are hereby reiterating our advice to the protesters to put an end to the protests so as to minimize losses.”
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