Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The joint caucus of the South-East members of the National Assembly has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the promoters of #IgboMustGo genocidal threat.
This is coming barely one week after some Yoruba people in Lagos State launched a campaign on the social media with hashtag #IgboMustGo, giving Ndigbo living in Lagos and other parts of South-West region between August 20 and 30, 2024, to relocate back to South-East.
In the petition signed by the Leader of South-East Senate Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, and leader of House of Representatives, Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo, submitted to the IGP at his Police Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, the South-East federal lawmakers called the attention of the IGP to the “bigoted anti-Igbo tweet made on the 27th of July released on X account of @Lagospedia”.
In the tweet, Lagosians and every South-West stakeholder were asked to prepare for massive protest of “IgboMustGo” on the 20th to 30th of August.
The tweet further gave Igbos in the South-West one month to leave and relocate their business from all South-West states and for all Yorubas living in the South-East to return home.
The South-East federal lawmakers therefore, said that since this viral tweet was sent out and despite that the X account in question was deactivated on 3rd August, the social media has been awash with vitriol against the Igbos with several handles, including but not limited to the following joining the call for attacks against the Igbos: @GideonAdekusibe; @kultureklansman; @jackunle777; @adex_smithjr; @Waspapping_; have openly called for the killing and extermination of Ndi Igbo.
The caucus further said that “as the ongoing nationwide protest continues, these anti-Igbo sentiments have led to a well ochestrated effort at pitching Ndigbo against Northerners by insinuating that the Igbos instigated the protests so that Northerners can destroy their homes.”
Similarly, the Joint South-East caucus noted that the tweet put out on 20th July, 2024 by Mr President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga @ aonanuga1956 where he claimed that the protests were being planned by OBIdient supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“It is on record that the call for the protest was initiated by a Yoruba man, and that leaders of the South-East had called on our people not to join the protest hence, the relative peace we are enjoying in the region as there were barely any protests in the zone.
The group noted that “these calls for the extermination of Ndigbo are reminiscent of the anti-Igbo campaigns of the 1950s which culminated in the bloody pogrom of 1966 which eventually led to an even bloodier civil war between 1967 to 1970.”
The joint South-East Caucus stressed that “Nigeria is home to all of us and as battle to keep this country on the track of growth and greatness, efforts must be made to ensure that every part of the country is given sense of belonging.
“This is only possible when the rights of people are protected by relevant government bodies,” the caucus added.
There have been growing condemnation against the anti-Igbo campaign considered a genocidal threat.
Former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, had earlier said that the call was as good as asking Ndigbo to exit Nigeria.
He told the promoters “to also help Ndigbo to leave Nigeria which is not our intention anyway.”
