Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged the federal government to swiftly arrest and prosecute the individual behind the X handle @lagospedia, which has called for a protest aimed at evicting the Ndigbo from Lagos and other South West states.
The protest, set to take place from August 10 to 20, has been tagged #Igbomustgo and remains unaddressed by the presidency.
Obi emphasized that such threats against the Ndigbo community are a direct threat to Nigeria’s unity and contravene the country’s constitution. “Deeply disturbing, I have read genocidal threats on X against the Igbo tribe, calling for their relocation. Let me pointedly warn that such rhetoric threatens our unity and is fundamentally opposed to our Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to live and work freely anywhere in the country. Those in authority must show leadership and urgently speak out against such divisive rhetoric,” Obi stated.
He called on the federal government, security agencies, and those in positions of authority to demonstrate leadership by condemning the divisive call for protest. He insisted that immediate actions should be taken to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those behind the hateful campaign, to deter others from pursuing similar paths that jeopardize national security and unity.
Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, also appealed to Nigerians to unite against this divisive rhetoric, urging citizens to promote unity, tolerance, and understanding. He highlighted that Nigeria’s future depends on its people living and working together harmoniously.
“I urge all Nigerians to stand united against this divisive rhetoric and to champion unity, tolerance, and understanding. Our future depends on our ability to live and work together harmoniously. The government and security agencies must act swiftly to protect this fundamental principle and ensure that every Nigerian can live free from fear of discrimination or persecution. We must not allow our present challenges to drive wedges among us. We can only overcome our national challenges if we act together as one people united under God,” Obi concluded in his statement on Friday.
