Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has condemned a controversial post by @Lagospedia on X (formerly Twitter) that called for the Igbo to vacate Lagos and the South-West. The post, made on July 27, 2024, encouraged Lagosians to prepare for a massive #IgboMustGo protest from August 20 to 30, 2024, sparking significant backlash on social media.
In a statement released late Thursday, Sanwo-Olu’s media aide, Gboyega Akosile, emphasized that the governor and the Lagos State Government distance themselves from the “reckless, divisive, and dangerous rhetoric.” The statement affirmed that Lagos remains a home for every Nigerian citizen, irrespective of their ethnic background.
Sanwo-Olu described the post as an attempt to create discord between the Yoruba in the South-West and other ethnic groups, particularly those who have made Lagos their permanent residence. He urged Lagosians to reject any efforts to incite tension and called on security agencies to investigate and hold accountable those behind the @Lagospedia handle.
“The governor appeals to Lagosians not to allow any person or group of individuals to create tensions in the state, calling on the security agencies to promptly investigate those behind the handle and bring them to justice,” Akosile said. He added that Governor Sanwo-Olu is committed to maintaining lasting peace in the state.
The governor’s condemnation comes shortly after Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, called on the Federal Government to investigate the #IgboMustGo hashtag. Atiku labeled the hashtag as divisive and a threat to national unity and security in a post on his verified Facebook page.
“The recent call on X (formerly Twitter) for a protest under the hashtag #IgboMustGo, demanding the forced relocation of Igbo people from Lagos and other South-West states, is deeply troubling and fundamentally opposed to the principles of unity and coexistence that define our nation. Such rhetoric is not only divisive but also endangers our peace and security, as our Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to live and work freely anywhere in the country,” Atiku’s post read.
Governor Sanwo-Olu urged Lagosians to ignore the divisive post and focus on maintaining harmony within the state.
