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By Madu Obi
Elder statesman and former governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Dr Chike Obidigbo has absolved President Bola Tinubu from the reported Igbo must go campaign in Lagos, describing it as the misguided views of some unrepentant Yoruba ethnic bigots.
He, however, urged the president to call those involved to order, arguing that the development is threatening the peaceful co-existence in the country.
Speaking in Awka, Obidigbo said those championing the ejection of Igbo from Lagos and entire Yoruba land were fueling hatred, adding that they must be put in check.
He said: "Their agitation is now becoming very clear,very loud, very threatening, and with no meaningful and convincing official reprimand or any security challenges.
It is very unfortunate that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has become surrounded by ethnic bigots and political riffraffs, who believe that Yoruba would be better off without the contributions of citizens from other parts of Nigeria, probably ignorant of the fact that the success of any administration must be rooted in cooperation and collaboration with allies from other camps.
This announcement by #LagosPedia did not come as a total surprise, because it is a reflection of the body language of some political rabble rousers that are unfortunately loyal to the President of the Federal Republic of all Nigeria.
It must be noted that while Igbo from mainly South Eastern and other parts of Nigeria are not without homeland, our decision to see every part of Nigeria as home is in the spirit and letter of the country’s Constitution, so must never be used against us. Rather, it should be considered a big positive to the desired unity of the country.
At this point in time, it has become necessary for the promoters of #IgboMust go to be reminded that Igbo have neither been soldiers of occupation, nor economic parasites in any part of the world they find themselves.
If these ethnic hirelings think that the only way they could be productive to themselves and their environment is to execute xenophobia attack on Igbo, they are widely mistaken."
According to him, instead of the veiled threats, those behind #LagosPedia should prevail on their principals to consider more civilized ways of achieving that same goal with less rancour and bitterness.
He added: "I have personally and convincingly stated that Nigeria as a country is far too large for one black man to manage successfully and profitably.
Since this agitation is becoming a recurring decimal, will it then not be better for all separatist agitators, including their silent supporters to initiate civilized methods of dismembering this contraption called our country?
Given the boldness and effrontery of #LagosPedia to articulate and set a date to begin #IgboMustGo protest, the salient implication of the pronouncement is not lost on well-meaning Igbo and we are ready to oblige the sponsors if they come out in a more civilized manner."
Obidigbo said it is most unfortunate that younger Nigerians were being schooled to mistake divisive rhetoric as real politic, recalling that right from the 2019 general elections up until now, exclusion of Igbo from Nigeria in all ramifications has become an easy plea to divert attention from the malaise plaguing the country as a whole.
Igbo had been threatened with possible massive drowning in the Lagoon if they voted according to their God-given conscience and against the dictates of potentates.
The violence and threats got to a dizzying height during last year’s elections,when homes and business premises of Igbo were targeted and destroyed under many guises and policies,while government agencies and security outfits looked the other way, and in some cases openly participating in the atrocious treatments.
In all these vengeful and punitive measures against Igbo in a country where they are true bonafide, nobody remembers that Igbo make positive contributions to the development of their areas of residence.
With President Tinubu as Commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, some of his foot soldiers in Lagos believe that Igbo constitute his only obstacle to perpetual control of the country.
I, for one, think that time has come for the powers that be to come out and issue an executive order pronouncing a separate nation for the Igbo, instead of all these unwarranted wranglings that often lead to avoidable destructions, sometimes, bloodshed", he said.
He also called on President Tinubu and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu to show in more practical ways that they were not in support of the ongoing profiling of Igbo in Lagos and the rest of Yoruba.
They must not allow anti-social elements in their midst to throw Nigeria into another avoidable conflict.
Two brothers must not be allowed to fight to the death, because strangers will share their inheritance, " he stated.
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