Victor EzejaLagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has distanced himself from a social media post threatening Igbo people to vacate Lagos and other Southwest states.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos remains home to every Nigerian citizen regardless of their ethnic nationality.
The statement said the governor views the post as “not only reckless and divisive but an attempt to sow a seed of discord between the Yoruba in the Southwest and other tribes, especially those who have made Lagos their permanent place of abode.”
Akosile said the governor appealed to Lagosians not to allow any person or group of individuals to create tensions in the state.
He also called on the security agencies to promptly investigate those behind the handle and bring them to justice.
“Mr. Governor enjoins Lagosians to ignore the post and any post of that nature, promising to double his efforts towards ensuring lasting peace in the state,” Sanwo-Olu’s spokesperson added.
An X handle with the user name Lagospedia had on Saturday, 27th July, called on Igbos to relocate from Lagos and other Southwest states in Nigeria with their businesses and brace up for a massive hashtag #IgboMustGo protest from 20th to 30th August, 2024.
The threat against Igbos living in Lagos and other Southwest states has generated reactions.
Prime Business Africa had reported that former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar on Thursday, 1st August, condemned the threat, warning that such divisive rhetoric is similar to what caused genocide in Rwanda in 1994.
Atiku said Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity and that any attempt to divide the country must be stoutly resisted. He called for investigation and arrest of those behind the X handle.
Also, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, in a statement via his verified X handle on Friday morning, described the threat as “genocidal.”
Obi warned that such a narrative threatens Nigeria’s unity and is fundamentally opposed to the Constitution which gives every Nigerian the right to live and work freely anywhere in the country.
He urged those in authority to urgently speak out against such “divisive rhetoric.”
Obi also called for investigation, arrest, and prosecution of those behind the dangerous agenda, to serve as a deterrent to others who might consider pursuing similar paths that threaten the country’s national security and unity.
He urged Nigerians to stand united against such divisive rhetoric and to champion unity, tolerance, and understanding.
“Our future depends on our ability to live and work together harmoniously,” he stated.
“The government and security agencies must act swiftly to protect this fundamental principle and ensure that every Nigerian can live free from fear of discrimination or persecution. We must not allow our present challenges to drive wedges among us.
“We can only overcome our national challenges if we act together as one people United under God,” Obi added.
Also, reacting to that, former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, described the threat against Igbos in Lagos as “senseless and condemnable.”
Sani, who is also an activist, urged both federal and Lagos state governments to ensure adequate protection of the people being threatened.
“The ‘Quit notice’ given to the Igbos in Lagos is senseless and condemnable. The Federal and State Governments must ensure they are adequately protected on the so-called dates issued for them by the faceless hate group,” Sani stated in a post on X.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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