The Indigenous People of Biafra has strongly criticized the ‘IgboMustGo’ campaign in the South-West, calling for a referendum for the Igbo to exit Nigeria.
In a statement by IPOB Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, the group declared their readiness to leave Nigeria if necessary.
The statement read, “Following the provocative and genocidal ‘IgboMustGo’ proposed protest slated to commence from August 20-30th 2024, by some faceless Yoruba groups and persons, the Indigenous People of Biafra wish to remind the Yoruba anti-Igbo groups that Ndigbo are ready to exit Yoruba land and Nigeria via a referendum. Ndigbo will not succumb to any threat from any group or persons to leave any state or region in Nigeria.”
The statement further criticized South-West authorities for downplaying the campaign, asserting that the Igbo community is resilient.
It stated, “It is laughable that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was reported to have hypnotically condemned the proponents of the ‘Igbo Must Go’ protest. The Governor will not hoodwink Ndigbo with his hypocritical condemnation of those calling for Igbos’ expulsion from the South West Region of Nigeria.”
The IPOB also claimed that the campaign is supported by high-ranking officials in Lagos and the Federal Governments, urging caution among Southerners.
It added, “There is a high chance that the proponents of the ‘IgboMustGo’ are sponsored by high-profile persons in the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government.”
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu condemned the call for Igbo people to vacate Lagos and the Southwest.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu said, “The attention of Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has been drawn to a post by LagosPedia, a social media handle on X (formerly Twitter) that calls on the Igbo to vacate Lagos and Southwest of Nigeria and brace up for a massive hashtag IgboMustGo protest from August 20-30, 2024.”
