In a recent statement, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the legal representative for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has called on the Federal Government to take action against the promoters of the #IgboMustGo campaign. He emphasized that the government should be held accountable should any harm befall the lives or properties of Ndigbo anywhere in Nigeria.
During an interview with South-East PUNCH on Monday, Ejiofor specifically raised concerns about the purported involvement of one of the President’s aides, Bayo Onanuga, in making inflammatory statements and posting divisive content against the Igbo community.
He urged President Tinubu to direct his aide to remove the offensive posts, issue a public apology to the Igbo people, and only then would any safety measures announced by the presidency be taken seriously by the Igbo community.
Ejiofor suggested that Onanuga’s rhetoric could have fueled the #IgboMustGo movements and stressed the importance of the President addressing this situation promptly.
He emphasized the need to present concrete evidence as the tensions escalate, pointing out possible collaborations behind the #IgboMustGo movement beyond individual actions. He also highlighted Onanuga’s history of making derogatory remarks against the Igbo community.
Ejiofor raised concerns about the severity of threats directed at the Igbo community in Lagos during the previous election cycle. He warned that failure to address these threats promptly could lead to further violence with potentially dire consequences.
He called for vigilance among the Igbo community in Lagos, cautioning against underestimating the seriousness of the situation while expressing confidence in their ability to face this challenge head-on.
Questioning the lack of accountability, he urged President Tinubu to take action by compelling Onanuga to retract his threats and issue an apology to the Igbo community for his past statements.
In conclusion, he advised the Igbo community in Lagos to remain vigilant and emphasized the need to confront this apparent conspiracy unitedly.