Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has distanced himself and his government from the call by some Yoruba extremists, asking Nigerians of Igbo extraction to vacate the state and other parts of South-West (Yoruba land).
DAILY POST reports that an account on the X microblogging platform (formerly Twitter) had made a post campaigning for the massive hashtag “#IgboMustGo” protest beginning from 20th to 30th August, 2024.
The handle which is known for its anti-Igbo comments and posts on the X platform, urged South-East indigenes residing in Lagos State to vacate their land.
Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar while reacting to the trend, said the call is deeply troubling and fundamentally opposed to the principles of unity and coexistence that define Nigeria as a nation.
Security.
Speaking on the matter, the Lagos State Governor in a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile described the call as reckless, divisive and dangerous rhetoric, stating that Lagos “remains home to every Nigerian citizen regardless of their ethnic nationality”.
According to the governor, “the post was 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”.
He appealed to Lagos residents not to allow any person or group of individuals to create tensions in the State.
The governor called on the security agencies to “promptly investigate those behind the handle and bring them to justice”.
Sanwo-Olu enjoined residents to ignore the post and any post of that nature, promising that efforts would be doubled towards ensuring lasting peace in the State.
IgboMustGo call reckless, divisive – Gov Sanwo-Olu disowns promoters