Former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has expressed bewilderment at the genocidal threat for Ndigbo to quit South West, saying that such a call amounts to asking them to exit Nigeria.
Those behind the #IgboMustGo campaign, have given Ndigbo living in Lagos and other parts of South West zone, up to August 20, to relocate to South East.
This is as Igbo youths under the aegis of the Coalition of South East Youths Leaders, COSEYL, have called for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the “evil campaign.”
The former Senate President who spoke in Umuahia, called on South West leaders especially Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to protect the lives and assets of Ndigbo living in the Western region.
Senator Wabara who is the Chairman, Board of Trustees BoT of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, further said that such an unprovoked threate amounted to paying Ndigbo back in the wrong coin for not participating in the nationwide protest against hardship caused by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.
He expressed shock that Ndigbo would be reciprocated with such a genocidal threat even when they did not participate in the nationwide protest rocking many regions including Tinubu’s South West.
“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 thee 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.”e
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”.
Reacting also, COSEYL, described the campaign as ” wicked and reckless”.
The apex 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 non exist 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 jeopardize 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 strife. 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 group involved in this wicked campaign of Igbos must leave Lagos and other South West states are criminals who are against the Igbos because the 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 own it more than the other.”
