By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The joint caucus of the South-East members of the National Assembly has asked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest and prosecute those instigating anti-Igbo action in the South-West geopolitical zone.
The Igbo federal lawmakers made the demand in a petition signed by the Leader of South-East Senate Caucus, Enyinnaya Abaribe, and leader of House of Representatives, Igariwey Iduma Enwo.
The petition was submitted to the IGP at his Police Headquarters in Abuja yesterday.
The South-East federal lawmakers called the attention of the IGP to a bigoted anti-Igbo tweet made on the 27th of July released on X account of @Lagospedia wherein Lagosians and every South-West stakeholder were asked to prepare for a massive protest of ‘IgboMustGo on the 20th to 30th of August’.
The tweet further gave the Igbo in the South-West one month to leave and relocate their business from all the South-West states, and for all the Yoruba living in the South-East to return home.
The South-East federal lawmakers, therefore, said that since this vile tweet was sent out and despite that the X account in question had been deactivated on 3rd August, the social media has been awash by vitriol against the Igbo, with several handles.
They listed those who had joined the call for attacks against the Igbos to include, @GideonAdekusibe; @kultureklansman; @jackunle777; @adex_smithjr; @Waspapping_; have openly called for the killing and extermination of Ndi Igbo.
The group further reminded that, as the ongoing nationwide protest continues, these anti-Igbo sentiments have led to a well-orchestrated effort at pitching the Ndigbo against Northerners by insinuating that the Igbo instigated the protests so that northerners can destroy their homes.
Similarly, the Joint South-East caucus noted that the tweet put out on 20th July, 2024 by Mr President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga @ aonanuga1956, where he claimed that the protests were being planned by OBIdient supporters of the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB).
Part of the petition read, “It is on record that the call for the protest was initiated by a Yoruba man, and that leaders of the South-East had called on our people not to join the protest, hence, the relative peace we are enjoying in the region as there were barely any protests.”
The group noted that these calls for the extermination of Ndigbo are reminiscent of the anti-Igbo campaigns of the 1950s which culminated in the bloody pogroms of 1966, and which eventually led to an even bloodier civil war between 1967 to 1970.
The caucus stressed that Nigeria is home to all, and as the battle to keep the country on the track of growth and greatness intensifies, efforts must be made to ensure that every part of the country is given a sense of belonging.
The federal lawmakers added that this is only possible when the rights of people are protected by the relevant government bodies.
