Igbo Must Go: Tinubu’s enemies promote Yoruba hegemony.

By Dr, Chike Obidigbo (Osisioma)

Once again I call the attention of President Tinubu and several well meaning Yorubas and other Nigerians to the misguided activities of some unrepentant Yoruba ethnic bigots, championing the ejection of Igbo from Lagos and entire Yoruba land.

Their agitation is now becoming very clear, loud and threatening with no meaningful and convincing official reprimand or security caution.

It is very unfortunate that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been surrounded by ethnic bigots and political riffraffs, who believe that Yoruba would be better off without the contributions of citizens from other parts of Nigeria, perhaps out of ignorance that the success of any administration must be rooted in cooperation and collaboration with allies, from other camps.

It should be recalled that recently, an X (formerly Twitter) user with the handle, #LagosPedia, had threatened to start a massive protest from August 20th to 30th, 2024, under the hashtag #IgboMustGo#, to compel Igbo out of Lagos State and by extension, all of Yoruba land.

This announcement by #LagosPedia did not come as a total surprise, because it is a reflection of the body language of some political rabble rousers that are unfortunately loyal to the President of the Federal Republic of all Nigeria.

It must be noted that while Igbo from mainly South Eastern, and other parts of Nigeria are not without homeland, our decision to see every part of Nigeria as home is in the spirit and letter of the country’s Constitution, and so must never be used against us. Rather, it should be considered a big positive to the desired unity of the country.

At this point in time, it has become necessary for the promoters of #IgboMustGo to be reminded that Igbo have neither been soldiers of occupation nor economic parasites, in any part of the world they find themselves.

If these ethnic hirelings think that the only way they could be productive to themselves and their environment is to execute xenophobia attack on Igbo, they are widely mistaken.

It is on record that from 1967 to 1970 Igbo, with their treasured neighbours desired a nation of their own and till today their youths have renewed the agitation for a referendum to undergird Nigerians’ resolve to remain one nation.

The agitation is still very valid till date, so, Instead of these veiled threats, those behind #LagosPedia should prevail on their principals to consider more civilised ways of achieving that same goal, with less rancour and bitterness.

I have personally and convincingly stated that Nigeria as a country is far too large for one black man, with our low exposure level, and low mental capability to manage successfully and profitably.

Since this agitation is becoming a recurring decimal, will it then not be better for all separatist agitators, including their silent supporters to initiate civilised methods of dismembering this contraption called our country.

Given the boldness and effrontery of #LagosPedia to articulate and set a date to begin #IgboMustGo protest, the salient implication of the pronouncement is not lost on well-meaning Igbo. And we are ready to oblige the sponsors if they come out in a more civilised manner.

It is most unfortunate that younger Nigerians are being schooled to mistake divisive rhetoric as real politic. Right from the 2019 general elections up until now, exclusion of Igbo from Nigeria in all ramifications, has become an easy plea to divert attention from the malaise plaguing the country as a whole.

Igbo had been threatened with possible massive drowning in the Lagoon if they voted according to their God-given conscience and against the dictates of potentates.

The violence and threats got to a dizzying height during last year’s elections, when homes and business premises of Igbo were targeted and destroyed under many guises and policies, while government agencies and security outfits looked the other way, and in some cases openly participating in the atrocious treatments.

In all these vengeful and punitive measures against Igbo in a country where they are true bonafides, nobody remembers that Igbo make positive contributions to the development of their areas of residence.

Not long ago, even our revered Prof. Wole Soyinka of all persons, expressed the hope that Mr. Peter Obi does not bother to contest the 2027 presidential election. As if that was not enough, a Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, another Yoruba elite; blatantly and with no valid proof accused the former Anambra State governor, Mr Obi, of sponsoring the ongoing nationwide hardship protest, just to serve the same purpose of ethnic baiting of Igbo.

Ndigbo wanted to participate in the on going nationwide hunger protest. They became automatically profiled. They decided to withdraw, they became stigmatised. Where then lies Igbo comfort inside Nigeria?

With President Tinubu as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, some of his foot soldiers in Lagos believe that Igbo constitute his only obstacle to perpetual control of the country.

I, for one, think that time has come for the powers that be to come out and issue an executive order pronouncing a separate nation for the Igbo, instead of all these unwarranted wrangling that often lead to avoidable destructions, sometimes, bloodshed.

Once more, I call on our respected Elder President Tinubu, and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu to show in more practical ways that they are not in support of the ongoing profiling of Igbo in Lagos and the rest of Yoruba. They must not allow anti-social elements in their midst to throw Nigeria into another avoidable conflict.

Two brothers must not be allowed to fight to death, because strangers will share their inheritance.

Finally, President Tinubu should be advised that the absence of his enlightened former allies like Babatunde Fashola, Rauf Aregbesola and Kayode Fayemi could be what has given room for ethnic bigots to misguide and damage his statesmanlike disposition we were all very proud of.

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