Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s failure to arrest and prosecute promoters of Igbo must leave the South-West five days after that declaration was made.
Atiku made the condemnation on Thursday as anger rages over certain elements from the South-West who had called for Nigerians from the South-East geopolitical zone to be driven away from the South-West geopolitical zone.
The call for the Igbo, one of the major ethnic nationalities in Nigeria to leave has dominated the social media following a post by an individual who runs an account called Lagospedia on X/Twitter calling on “Lagosians and every South-West stakeholders to prepare for the massive protest of IgboMustGo on the 20th to 30th of August.”
The post which was made on July 27 further said “they have one month from now to leave and relocate their business from all South-West states.
“We urged all Yoruba living in the South-East states to return home,” the post said.
The threat has not been condemned by the police or any security agency and the individual has not been arrested as of the time of filing this report.
Atiku condemned the incendiary rhetoric saying it’s a recipe for a repeat of what happened in Rwanda, which led to genocide.
Taking to his social media page, Atiku said “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 said.
He called “on the Nigerian government and relevant authorities to take immediate and strong action against those inciting such hatred and division.”
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party emphasised that it is imperative to “investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals promoting ethnic discrimination and violence.”
Atiku stressed that the rule of law must prevail,” positing that “those found guilty of incitement should face the full extent of legal consequences.”
He stated that Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity, and “we must resist any efforts to sow discord among our people.”
According to him, Lagos and the Southwest have long been melting pots of cultures where individuals from various backgrounds contribute to “our collective growth and development.”
That said, he pointed out that the Igbo community, along with all other ethnic groups, is an integral part of this vibrant mosaic.
He therefore urged “all Nigerians to stand united against this divisive rhetoric and to champion unity, tolerance, and understanding.”
He added that “our future depends on our ability to live and work together harmoniously,” charging the government and security agencies to “act swiftly to protect this fundamental principle and ensure that every Nigerian can live free from fear of discrimination or persecution.”
The PDP top brass lamented, “It is alarming that, five days after this threat emerged, there has been a troubling silence.”
He called for “Immediate action to arrest, investigate, and prosecute those behind this heinous agenda is crucial.”
He said their arrests “will serve as a deterrent to others who might consider pursuing similar paths that threaten our national security.”