- Gives insight into campaigners, supporters, Social Media handles involved
Full details below:
CALL FOR ACTION AGAINST ELEMENTS INSTIGATING ANTI-IGBO ACTIONS
We write on behalf of all members of the South East Senate Caucus and all members of the South East House of Representatives Caucus of the 10th National Assembly. On the 27th of July, a handle on X (formerly Twitter) with a blue tick known as @Lagospedia (this user on 2nd August abandoned this handle switching to @Lagospidia, before finally deactivating it on Saturday 3rd August, 2024) issued a call which read thus:
“Lagosians and every S’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 S’West States. We urge all Yorubas living in the S’East to return home. @Lagos_IBILE”.
Since this vile and bigoted tweet was sent out, the social media especially X has been inundated by vitriol against the Igbo with several handles including but not limited to the following joining the call for attacks against the Igbo: @GideonAdekusibe; @kultureklansman; @jackunle777; @adex_smithjr; @Waspapping. Some of these handles have openly called for the killing and extermination of Ndi Igbo.
As the ongoing nationwide protest continues, these anti-Igbo sentiments have led to a well-orchestrated effort at pitching Ndi Igbo against Northerners by insinuating that the Igbos instigated the protests so that Northerners can destroy their homes.
This, incidentally, follows from a tweet put out on 20th July, 2024, by Mr President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on his verified X handle @aonanuga1956, wherein he claimed that the protests were being planned by supporters (Obidients) 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 in fact initiated by a Yoruba man, and that leaders of the Southeast had called on our people to not join the protest hence the relative peace we are enjoying in the region as there were barely any protests.
May we point out that these calls for the extermination of Ndi Igbo are reminiscent of the anti-Igbo campaigns of the 1950s which culminated in the bloody pogroms of 1966 which eventually led to an even bloodier civil war between 1967 to 1970.
All over the world, calls for the extermination of a people have never ended well. The genocide in Rwanda is a good example.
IGP, the Nigeria Police Force is mandated by the Constitution of the country to ensure law and order.
We therefore draw your attention to the fact that these anti-Igbo campaigns are contrary to the stipulations of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Section 41(1) of the 1999 constitution provides that: “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.”
Furthermore, Section 15(4) states that: “The State shall foster a feeling of belonging and of involvement among the various people of the Federation, to the end that loyalty to the nation shall override sectional loyalties.”
In view of these constitutional provisions, we affirm that this #IgboMustGo campaign contravenes the provisions of the Constitution and thus its champions must be brought to book.
We are therefore calling on you, to exercise the powers of your office in ensuring that these culprits are fished out, and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Justice must be done and be seen to be done as deterrent to others who harbour such intents not only against the Igbos, but also against any section of the country.
We note that the Lagos State Government through the Governor’s, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, on Friday, 2nd August, 2024, distanced itself from the divisive rhetoric of the handle. This is commendable.
But it must be noted that the said handle was being followed by key appointees of the Lagos State Government including Mr Akosile himself; Jubril Gawat, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media; Wale Ajetunmobi, Senior Special Assistant on Media; and Alabi Opeyemi Oladimeji, Senior Special Assistant on Youth Mobilization.
We have pointed out this key piece of information to aid the Police in knowing how to retrieve the current handle of “Lagospedia” and consequently unmasking those behind it in order to bring them to justice.
Nigeria is home to all of us and as we battle on the path of growth of growth and greatness, efforts must be made to ensure that every part of the country must be given a sense of belonging. This is only possible when the rights of the people are protected by relevant government agencies.
Enclosed: We have attached here samples of the #IgboMustGo campaign vitriol on X.
While thanking you for taking swift actions, please, accept, IGP, the assurances of our esteemed regards.
Signed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Leader of South East Senate Caucus of National Assembly) & Hon Igariwey Iduma Enwo (Leader of South East House of Representatives Caucus of National Assembly)
