JUST IN: South East lawmakers petition IGP Egbetokun over #IgboMustGo campaign

Members of the National Assembly from the South-East region of the country have petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, over a “hate campaign” asking Nigerians of South East region, popularly known as Igbos to leave Lagos and other states in the South West region of the country.

Prior to the ongoing nationwide protest against economic hardship in the country, a pro-Lagos X social media account, @lagospedia gave the Igbo in Lagos and South West states a one-month ultimatum to relocate their businesses to their region.
The post, which went viral on July 27, 2024, announced a planned #IgboMustGo protest from August 20 to 30, 2024, sparking widespread outrage on social media.
The post warned that people of South-East extraction, popularly known as Igbos have one month from July 27 when the post was made to leave the entire South West region.

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The post also asked Yoruba citizens living in the South-East to return to the South-West.
The post read, “Lagosians and every South-West stakeholder should prepare for the massive protest of #IgboMustGo on the 20th-30th of August.
“They have one month from now to leave and relocate their business from all South-West states. We urge all Yorubas living in the South-East to return home.”
However, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government, in a statement released, late Thursday through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, distanced itself from the hate campaign.

The statement emphasised that the governor and the Lagos State Government strongly disavowed the inflammatory and divisive rhetoric.

In a petition dated August 4, 2024, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe and Hon. Igariwey Enwo, leaders of the South-East caucus in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, emphasised the police’s duty to maintain law and order in the country.
The duo urged the police boss to address a post by President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, who alleged that the protest was orchestrated by supporters of the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi.

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In the petition, they said “Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution provides that: ‘Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom’.

“Furthermore, Section 15(4) states that: ‘The State shall foster a feeling of belonging and of involvement among the various people of the Federation, to the end that loyalty to the nation shall override sectional loyalties.’

“In view of these constitutional provisions, we affirm that this #IgboMustGo campaign contravenes the Constitution, and its proponents must be held accountable.

“We are therefore calling on you to use your authority to ensure these individuals are identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The lawmakers also called on the police to identify the owner of the ‘@lagospedia’ handle on X for promoting the #IgboMustGo campaign.

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