The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and so-political group, Afenifere, has called on Nigerians living legitimately in any part of Yorubaland to entertain no fear about their safety or be afraid of being forced out of the area.
The group expressed disappointment over the continued scapegoating of Igbos, evidenced by online statements such as the “Igbo Must Go” hashtag and inflammatory posts by certain social media handles like ‘Lagospedia’ on X (formerly Twitter).
Afenifere in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, faulted such a threat, declaring that those behind the divisive campaign “are out to cause disaffection among Ndigbo and Yorubas.”
The group further stated that there was no plan anywhere to expel any group of people who are peacefully doing their businesses from any part of the southwest.
Ajayi said, “In view of the serious danger such a call for expulsion poses to peaceful co-existence, Afenifere is hereby calling on the security agencies, Police especially, to round up those behind this unpatriotic move as contained in the quoted LagosPedia post.
“None of them is singled out for harassment. Only people who are criminally minded have reasons to be afraid. And this is not restricted to non-Yoruba people. Whether you are Yoruba or non-Yoruba, if you contravene the laws of the land, you will be appropriately dealt with in accordance with the rule of law. Otherwise, you have no reason to fear at all, whether you are an indigene or non-indigene.”
Ajayi saluted Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for promptly denouncing the campaign of calumny that tends to fuel embers of disunity.
“It is on record that Lagos State Government, as is the case with other governments in the Southwest, is doing everything possible to provide for the citizens of the state without regard to tribe, religion or any other colouration. It is therefore very insensitive and mischievous of any person or group to come up with any insinuation laden with ethnic hatred, especially at this time that tension is high in the country.”
The South-East Caucus of the National Assembly has also expressed deep concern over the ethnic profiling of Igbos amidst the ongoing nationwide protests.
In a statement jointly signed by the leader of the Senate and House of Reps Caucus, Eyinaya Abaribe and Igariwey Enwo noted that despite adhering to the guidance of their leaders to abstain from participating in the protests, the Igbos have been unjustly targeted and scapegoated.
The South-East caucus noted that the Igbos, following the advice of governors, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, parliamentarians, and private sector leaders, decided not to engage in the protests.
The statement read, “This dangerous ethnic profiling is unwarranted, and must stop. It was such profiling that led to the millions of deaths in Nigeria from the 1950’s to the unfortunate civil war in 1967 to 1970.
“Elsewhere in Africa it led to the genocide in Rwanda and the xenophobia in South Africa. Such should not be our fate again in Nigeria.
“We demand therefore that the security agencies bring to book the purveyors of these hate speeches in line with the cybercrimes act and criminal laws of the country.
“We continue to appeal to Igbos across the country to stay away from the protests and remain law-abiding.”
