Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia; Ben Ezechime, Enugu; & Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
As reactions trail the recent genocidal threat for Ndigbo to quit Lagos and other South-West states tagged #IgboMustGo campaign, former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has strongly condemned the call and the purveyors.
This is as Lt. Col. Aaron Ugwu (retd.), has warned those behind the evil campaign to know that “nobody has the monopoly of violence.”
Similarly, Igbo Think Tank has described the viral campaign as “a joke taken too far,” and called on the Federal Government to seriously warn the mischief makers behind the campaign.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those behind the campaign.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, respectively, had condemned the campaign, and tasked the Federal Government to arrest and prosecute them.
Senator Wabara who expressed shock at the acrimonious campaign, said it was as good as asking Ndigbo to leave Nigeria.
Recall that the promoters of the #IgboMustGo campaign, have given Ndigbo living in Lagos and other parts of South-West zone, up to August 20, to return to the South-East.
The former Senate President said the campaign coming at a time Ndigbo shunned the nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance caused by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the South-West, was a wrong way to appreciate Ndigbo for exhibiting maturity.
Wabara argued that it was wrong to reciprocate the maturity of Ndigbo over the nationwide protests that even Tinubu’s South-West actively participated in.
He, therefore, argued that if those who want Ndigbo to quit Lagos and other South-West states should also assist them to exit Nigeria “even though that is not their intension.”
Senator Wabara wondered why Ndigbo would always be hated without provocation, and called on Government not to treat the threat with levity.
He said: “This came to me as a shock and a big surprise. Asking Ndigbo to leave South-West is as good as asking us to leave Nigeria.
“I’m so surprised and shocked they could be making such a demand when yesterday, there was no single protest in the entire South-East.
“If at home our youths who are suffering the most did not join the protest against an administration headed by a Yoruba man, why then should we be punished? I rather think that Ndigbo deserve accommodation and not ejection by the West.
“In the South -West there have been protests unlike South-East where there has been no protest at all even when our son is not the President.
“So, it will be a disservice and dishonour to reward us with a genocidal threat to vacate South-West. That means we are hated in this country just for being Igbo.
“Therefore, if they are asking us to leave the South-West, they should equally help us to leave Nigeria which is not our intention anyway.”
Senator Wabara called on President Tinubu to ensure no harm comes on Ndigbo living anywhere in Nigeria, arguing that the constitution of Nigeria guarantees the right of every Nigerian to live in any part of the country without molestations.
“I call on the President and South-West Governors especially Gov. Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, to ensure the protection of Ndigbo living in Lagos and other parts of Yoruba land.”
Responding, the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Igbo Think Tank, Professor Madubuike Ezeibe, said the call for Ndigbo to quit Lagos was mischievous and the height of wickedness.
Professor Ezeibe who spoke with Ikengaonline, said that nobody should make such expensive joke while urging the Federal Government to fish out the promoters for appropriate for sanctions.
Sponsors of campaign, wicked, reckless – COSEYL
Reacting also, COSEYL, described the campaign as “wicked and reckless.”
The socio-political youth group in the South-East geopolitical zone, accused the peddlers of the campaign of attempting to further polarize Nigeria along tribal lines.
COSEYL in a statement by its President General, Goodluck Ibem said: “It’s very unfortunate that persons with criminal intent and purpose whose enterprise and stock in trade is to cause trouble and disaffection among Nigerians where none exists are at it again to destroy our nation.
“Such estranging campaign is not only schismatic but also endangers our unity, peace and security as a nation.
“It is enormously disturbing and constitutionally irreconcilable to the principles of unity, tolerance and coexistence that define our nation. Such campaign is not only alienating but also jeopardizing our peace and security, as our Constitution ensures every citizen the right to live and work freely in any part of the country.
“Experiences from other countries have shown us the repercussions of allowing bitterness, odium, loathing and bigotry to thrive. The authorities must learn from what happened in other countries and act accordingly.
“Our strength lies in its heterogeneity and multifariousness. We must refrain from any efforts to sow strife and discordance among Nigerians.
“The persons and groups involved in this wicked campaign are criminals who are against the Igbos because they said no to any protest against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“Information available is that they want to loot the properties and goods of Igbos in Lagos and other South-West states on the 20th August to 30th August, 2024 because the Igbos refused to protest against President Bola Tinubu.
“We call on President Tinubu, Governor Sanwu-olu and other South-West Governors to as a matter of urgency arrest and prosecute all those involved in this wicked and reckless shenanigan aimed at putting the nation on a keg of gunpowder.
“It is imperative the law takes it full course on those involved to serve as deterrents to others who might want to follow such part in the future. Nigeria is our collective country and nobody owns it more than the other.”
Enugu residents angry, demand action
Residents of Enugu State have also condemned the anti-Igbo campaign by some elements in Lagos, and demanded their immediate arrest.
Speaking with Ikengaonline in Enugu, the Chairman of Guild of Public Analysts, in the state, Dr Ambrose Igboke, said ethnic profiling was dangerous.
Igboke who described the call as irresponsible, advised the Federal Government to take a definite position on that.
“Ethnic profiling is very dangerous and the earlier the Federal Government of Nigeria takes action, the better for the country,” he said.
Igboke said that even when the Igbos refused to participate in the ongoing protest they were still being maligned.
“This shows the level of hatred to the Igbo nation by some ethnic chauvinists in the country,” he said.
Igboke further said NdIgbo had learned their lessons based on past experiences.
“Each time there is protests on national malaise, they are at the receiving end.
“Their properties are vandalized; they are victimised and sometimes maimed and lose their means of livelihood, they are made to face the law while others go free,” he said.
He said these were some of the reasons why this time around they chose to either remain at home or carry out skeletal businesses.
In the same vein, Lt. Colonel Aaron Ugwu (Rtd), described the “#Igbo must go” phobia as a serious matter, which should not be swept under the carpet.
“Ethnicity in Nigeria us taking a different dimension and it is dangerous for us as a country.
“I am waiting for the President to condemn it; nobody has monopoly of violence,” he said.
A resident, Engr, Toochi Okereke, said the #Igbomustgo campaign could break the country if not well checked.
“It is a bad trend; the government must fish out originators of this slogan and ensure that they face the law.
“Failure to do so may spell doom for Nigeria,” he said.
Reacting also, the Coordinator of Anambra State Civil Society Network (ASCONET), Prince Azor, said the “Igbo must go” mantra “is a bad omen that must be condemned by all patriots and peace loving humanity.”
According to him, campaign is not entirely surprising to any discerning mind with a good sense of history.
Azor recalled that the ugly trend reared its head during the last presidential election.
“One witnessed brazen threats from our South-West neighbours, especially in Lagos, openly stopping Ndigbo from participating in the electoral/voting process.
“Unfortunately, the government of the day did virtually nothing to stop or discourage such impunity. Till date no arrests were made and nobody was prosecuted as a deterrent.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria must take deliberate actions to forestall the impending disastrous consequences of such divisive and treasonable pronouncements.
“Culprits must be identified and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“President Tinubu must go beyond mere “Warning” and be decisive in tacking the impending menace.
“There’s also need for massive reorientation of Nigerians, through the instrumentality of State and Non-State institutions.
“The point needs to be made that some politicians are obviously fanning the embers of disunity and hate to destabilize the country.
Such unpatriotic elements must be identified by the security agencies, and dealt with decisively, according to law.”
Azor called on Nigerians to eschew all forms of ethnic, religious and political manipulations aimed to destabilize our country. He urged people to show they have learnt enough lessons from past experiences in the march towards nationhood.
In his response, a Public Affairs Analyst and journalist, Okechukwu Onuegbu, said the campaign “is totally unacceptable, condemnable and a treasonable offence.”
He said: “The campaign termed #IgboMustGo as propagated by some section of the country is totally unacceptable, condemnable and treasonable offence.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended clearly defined and empowers every citizen to live anywhere, freely relate and associate with people. Therefore, no one has a right to stop the Igbo or any other tribe in the country from living in any part of the country. Nigeria is for us all. Hence, Ndịgbo are going nowhere.
“Every Igbo man or woman resident in Lagos State should not panic so far such a person is doing a legitimate business (whether trading or civil service). But if you sense any danger, kindly run to the barrack or get ready and positioned to defend yourself.”
Mr Onuegbu called on law enforcement agencies to live up to expectation by ensuring that those propagating the hate speech are brought to book.
“On this note, I am calling on law enforcement agents to live up to their expectations especially now the President and Commander in Chief of the armed forces, Alh. Bola Ahmed Tinubu has addressed the issue.
“Even though he didn’t mention the Igbo in his speech. Our President did charge those threatening any section of the country to be warned or face the wrath of the law, and so should it be. Thanks.”
