Expressing his disapproval, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has criticized a social media post by @Lagospedia on X (previously known as Twitter) that urged the Igbo community to leave Lagos and the South-West region.
Posted on July 27, 2024, the message by @Lagospedia hinted at an upcoming #IgboMustGo protest from August 20 to 30, 2024, stirring controversy across various social media platforms.
In a late Thursday statement, Sanwo-Olu’s media aide, Gboyega Akosile, emphasized that the governor and the Lagos State Government disassociate themselves from the inflammatory and divisive content, reaffirming that Lagos welcomes all Nigerian citizens, irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds.
Describing the post as both reckless and divisive, Sanwo-Olu perceives it as an effort to foster discord between the Yoruba community in the South-West and other ethnic groups who have chosen to make Lagos their permanent residence.
“The governor urges the residents of Lagos not to succumb to any individual or group attempting to incite tension within the state and calls upon the security agencies to swiftly investigate the originators of such messages and hold them accountable,” remarked Akosile.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu advises the people of Lagos to disregard such posts and others of a similar nature, promising heightened efforts towards maintaining peace and harmony in the state,” Akosile added.
The governor’s statement follows a similar plea by former Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate from 2023, Atiku Abubakar, who called upon the Federal Government to probe and take necessary measures against those propagating the #IgboMustGo hashtag on X (previously Twitter).
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Atiku condemned the hashtag as divisive and a potential threat to peace and security.
“The recent trend on X involving the #IgboMustGo hashtag, advocating for the forced expulsion of Igbo residents from Lagos and other South-Western states, is deeply troubling and goes against the core values of unity and coexistence that define our nation. Such rhetoric not only divides but also jeopardizes our peace and security, as every Nigerian is constitutionally entitled to live and work freely across the country,” highlighted a section of Atiku’s statement.