Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has condemned a controversial tweet by @Lagospedia on X (formerly Twitter) calling for the expulsion of Igbo people from Lagos and the South-West.
The tweet, which went viral on July 27, 2024, announced a planned #IgboMustGo protest from August 20 to 30, 2024, sparking widespread outrage on social media.
The tweet warned that people of South-East extraction, popularly known as Igbo, that they have one month from July 27 when the post was made to leave the entire South-West region.
The tweet also asked Yoruba citizens living in the South-East to return to the South-West.
The tweet reads, “Lagosians and every South-West stakeholders 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 South-West states. We urge all Yorubas living in the South-East to return home.”
In a statement released late Thursday, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s media aide, Gboyega Akosile, emphasized that the governor and the Lagos State Government strongly disavow the inflammatory and divisive rhetoric.
Akosile stressed that Lagos remains a welcoming home for all Nigerian citizens, regardless of their ethnic background.
According to him, Governor Sanwo-Olu views the post as not only reckless and divisive but also a deliberate attempt to incite discord between the Yoruba people and other tribes, particularly those who have made Lagos their permanent residence.
Akosile’s statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) handle, titled: ‘REJOINDER,’ reads: “The attention of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been drawn to a post by LagosPedia, a social media handle on X (formerly Twitter) that calls on the Igbo to vacate Lagos and Southwest of Nigeria and brace up for a massive hashtag #IgboMustGo protest from 20th to 30th August, 2024.
“The Governor of Lagos State and indeed, Lagos State Government wish to distance themselves from the reckless, divisive and dangerous rhetoric, saying Lagos remains home to every Nigerian citizen regardless of their ethnic nationality.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu 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.
“The Governor appeals to Lagosians not to allow any person or group of individuals to create tensions in the State, calling 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.”
https://x.com/gboyegaakosile/status/1819143841766949130?s=12&t=Zxcn_D0EyexEnjfWaKeNJQ
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, also condemned the protest tagged #IgboMustGo, describing it as troubling and dangerous.
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, warned of dangers and consequences of such protest, evening as he noted that such demand opposed the principles of unity and co-existence that defines Nigeria.
Atiku who took to his official X to condemn the protest tag, wrote: “The recent call on X (formerly Twitter) for a protest under the hashtag #IgboMustGo, demanding the forced relocation of Igbo people from Lagos and other Southwest states, is deeply troubling and fundamentally opposed to the principles of unity and coexistence that define our nation.
“Such rhetoric is not only divisive but also endangers our peace and security, as our Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to live and work freely anywhere in the country.
“History has shown us the consequences of allowing hatred and bigotry to fester, as seen in Rwanda. What began with inflammatory rhetoric led to devastating outcomes. We must learn from these lessons and act decisively.”
He further regretted that five days after the threat emerged, there has been a troubling silence, showing the complicit of those in authority.
Atiku demanded immediate action to arrest, investigate, and prosecute those behind, what he described as “heinous agenda”.
