The pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has strongly condemned recent calls for Igbo people to vacate Lagos. This follows a social media campaign warning Igbo residents to leave the state and other South-West regions by August 20, 2024. The faceless group behind the campaign has threatened a 10-day protest action to force the departure of the Igbo if they do not comply.
Ohanaeze praised former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere for their swift condemnation of the campaign. The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Chiedozie Ogbonnia, highlighted the dangerous nature of the ethnic hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric against the Igbo community. He also recalled threats made by the Oba of Lagos and political figures that have targeted the Igbo people in recent years.
The statement lauded Obasanjo’s commitment to equity and fairness, and commended Sanwo-Olu and Afenifere for their public denouncements and support. Ohanaeze called for stronger consequences against those promoting hate and division.