…Yoruba leaders move to douse ethnic tensions

Following the outcries that greeted the #IgboMustGo campaign, prominent Yoruba leaders and organisations have moved swiftly to douse the flames, calling for calm and urging Nigerians to reject the divisive ethnic slur.

This is as Southeast leaders and groups have condemned the ethnic profiling and intimidation targeted at Ndigbo in Lagos and other parts of the country.
An X (formerly Twitter) handle @Lagospedia, a page claiming to be “proclaiming the virtues of Lagos”, last week gave Igbo living and doing business in Lagos and other Southwest states 30 days to vacate the region.
The post read: “Lagosians and every Southwest stakeholder should prepare for the massive protest of #IgboMustGo on the 20th – 30th of August. They have one month from now to leave and relocate their business from all southwest states. We urge all Yorubas living in the southeast to return home.”
The quit notice has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, with many questioning the motives of those behind it. The timing of the campaign has also raised eyebrows, coming as it does on the heels of the hardship protests that had seemingly united Nigerians across ethnic lines.
Swift action
The alleged move has been described as a dangerous and divisive ploy, one that threatens the very fabric of Nigeria’s diverse cultural landscape. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, were among those who have condemned the online campaign describing it as a violent threat to the unity of Nigeria and wanting those behind it probed.
“I call on the Nigerian government and relevant authorities to take immediate and strong action against those inciting such hatred and division. It is imperative to investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals promoting ethnic discrimination and violence. The rule of law must prevail, and those found guilty of incitement should face the full extent of legal consequences. This will serve as a deterrent to others who might consider pursuing similar paths that threaten our national security”, Atiku stressed.

Obi, on the other hand, warned: “Let me pointedly warn that such rhetoric threatens our unity and is fundamentally opposed to our Constitution. Those in authority must show leadership and urgently speak out against such divisive rhetoric. Immediate action should be taken to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those behind this heinous agenda”.

Dangerous ethnic profiling

The South East Caucus in the National Assembly has also condemned the anti-Igbo posture in Lagos, saying that the unwarranted dangerous ethnic profiling must stop.
A statement jointly signed by Enyinnaya Abaribe (Senate) and Igariwey Iduma Enwo (House of Representatives) respectively, said they were surprised and disappointed, that Igbos are still made scapegoats, and targeted as instigators of protests.
The statement read, “This dangerous ethnic profiling is unwarranted and must stop. It was such profiling that led to the millions of deaths in Nigeria from the 1950s to the unfortunate civil war in 1967 to 1970.
Elsewhere in Africa, it led to the genocide in Rwanda and xenophobia in South Africa. Such should not be our fate again in Nigeria.
“We demand therefore that the security agencies bring to book the purveyors of these hate speeches in line with the cybercrimes act and criminal laws of the country. We continue to appeal to Igbos across the country to remain law-abiding.”

Envious ramblings

Reacting, the Convener of Ikoro Ndigbo, Ugochimereze Chinedu Asuzu, dismissed the threat “as absurd and envious ramblings from idle charlatans. However, I don’t believe the Igbo should dignify such juvenile proclamations from faceless individuals with a response.
“On the other hand, if some regions are indeed tired of this flawed amalgamation, then we should consider responsibly exploring an amicable restructuring of the country into a geopolitical zonal arrangement. This would enable a more manageable and proportionate distribution, fostering positive competition and cooperation.”

Inching close to war

Also, the Igboezue International Association Nigeria and the Diaspora, IIAND, has urged President Tinubu and Governor Sanwo-Olu to warn the people chanting “#IgbosMustGo” to desist from such action as they are inching close to causing another war in Nigeria.
Addressing newsmen, the IIAND National President, Chief Pius Okoye, who spoke through the Anambra State chapter chairman, Chief Ikechukwu Nwafoawa, said: “We want to warn that we can never accept or keep quiet to any further attack targeted against Ndigbo anywhere in Yoruba land or any place in Nigeria.
We have had enough attacks on our people and their property. Nigeria belongs to all of us, we will never run away from any tribe in Nigeria. We are even more Nigerian and rooted and contribute to the all-round development in the states and places where we are being attacked.”
Referendum

The President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, advised: “Yoruba should give an award of honour to Ndigbo because the significant development done in Yoruba land is done by the Igbo.
Ndigbo brought fortune to Yoruba in commerce and industry. However, I advise the proponent of #IgboMustGo to campaign for the referendum, that’s how to know people of great courage. They should fasten up for Yoruba to have their own Oduduwa country, so they can determine who will go or stay in Odudowa country.”

Impossible task

For the Methodist Archbishop of Okigwe Archdiocese, Most Rev. Biereonwu Livinus Onuagha, the people saying that Igbo must leave Lagos were only joking. “What they are asking for is an impossible task. It is simply an impossible task.
It is like telling somebody that you are a Nigerian but you cannot be a Nigerian. What they are saying is a defeatist attitude, they know that the wealth in Lagos is Igbo’s. Remove whatever the Federal Government did in Lagos, remove whatever Igbo have done in Lagos, and there will be no Lagos, but they are simply joking.

I must tell them that the Igbo are not cowards to be in panic with such a threat. They know that they are asking for the impossibility.”

Leaders intervene

Meanwhile, as the controversy continues to simmer, Yoruba leaders have waded into the matter to prevent it from degenerating.
Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who distanced himself and his administration from the reckless, divisive and dangerous statement, said he “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”, and enjoined Lagosians to ignore the post and any post of that nature, promising to double his efforts towards ensuring lasting peace in the state.

In the same vein, pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, declared that those behind the unwarranted, provocative and divisive campaign “are out to cause disaffection among Ndigbo and Yorubas. 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 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”.

Count us out

Lagos Indigenes, under the auspices of the De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, in a statement by its media office, said: “We have nothing to do with the campaign. It is the handiwork of South West Yoruba, who are non-indigenes in the state. They are either residents or sojourners, whose aims and intentions are to capture the state permanently and dominate the natives. The current level of peaceful coexistence the citizens are enjoying should not be allowed to dissipate. The #IgbosMustGo campaign in Lagos is not organised by the indigenes. The DSS and the Police should set to work and nip the crisis in the bud.

“The indigenes of Lagos State unequivocally condemn the protest and campaign of calumny against our Igbo residents. We categorically dissociate ourselves from it.”
Lending his voice, a one-time Publicity Secretary of Yorùbá Summit Group, former Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, a member of the Eminent Elders Forum, and a leader of the Western Regional Organization, Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo, warned that “anything built on hatred is destined for destruction.

Non-Lagosian politicians

“Pathetic is to see the drunken southwesterners on a spurious, dubious linear route of anger to the wrong places. The Igbo once fought to leave Nigeria. They were kept back by force of arms. Now, they are being asked to leave. Really? The Southwest political leaders who funnel hate should make up their minds what they want. Then, all the non-Lagosian politicians from top to bottom, will have to leave Lagos for true Lagosians. If you play dog whistle politics, you end up like the proverbial dog not hearing the hunter’s whistle. It happened to the Nazis and the Jews.”
Also speaking, the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, through its General Secretary, Chief Oladipo Oyewole, said: “The Igbo are our brothers and sisters, they are not going anywhere and even if they want to go, we love them so much because they are the third leg of Nigeria and Nigeria cannot stand on two legs. The tripod is the best thing we can have and we must keep it. That is the position of the Yoruba Council of Elders. We have a lot of things together and we must remain together.
“We are strongly committed to having one Nigeria in line with President Bola Tinubu’s desire. So, asking the Igbo people to go away will be at variance with the President’s position. We must not be a divided nation.”

VANGUARD

About The Author