Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s failure to arrest and prosecute promoters of Igbo must leave the South-West five days after that declaration was made.
In a statement released on Thursday, Atiku denounced the incendiary rhetoric, claiming it is a recipe for a recurrence of the genocide that occurred in Rwanda. The statement was made in response to growing anger directed towards certain South-West elements who had called for the expulsion of Nigerians from the South-East geopolitical zone.
“Immediate action to arrest, investigate, and prosecute those behind this heinous agenda is crucial,” the former vice president declared, lamenting “the troubling silence that has followed this threat’s emergence, five days down the line.”
He said that “our future depends on our ability to live and work together harmoniously,” adding that their arrests “will serve as a deterrent to others who might consider pursuing similar paths that threaten our national security.” He also demanded that the government and security agencies “act swiftly to protect this fundamental principle and ensure that every Nigerian can live free from fear of discrimination or persecution.”
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On his social media page, Atiku stated: “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.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s former presidential candidate emphasised the need to “investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals promoting ethnic discrimination and violence” and urged the Nigerian government and pertinent authorities to act swiftly and strongly against those fomenting such hatred and division.
Recall how the demand for the Igbo, one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, to emigrate took over social media after someone posted on X/Twitter under the handle Lagospedia, urging “Lagosians and every South-West stakeholders to prepare for the massive protest of IgboMustGo on the 20th to 30th of August.”
“They have one month from now to leave and relocate their business from all South-West states,” the July 27 message added.
The tweet read, “We urged all Yoruba living in the South-East states to return home.”
Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity, according to the former PDP presidential candidate, who also emphasised that “we must resist any efforts to sow discord among our people” and that “those found guilty of incitement should face the full extent of legal consequences.”
He claims that the Southwest and Lagos have historically been cultural melting pots where people from different origins contribute to “our collective growth and development.” He emphasised that the Igbo community is a vital component of this colourful mosaic, just like all other ethnic groups are.
Therefore, he called on “all Nigerians to champion unity, tolerance, and understanding and to stand united against this divisive rhetoric.”
