The South-East caucus in the National Assembly has submitted a formal petition to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, denouncing what they characterize as a “hate campaign” against the Igbo ethnic group.
Dated August 4, the petition highlights troubling developments surrounding the ongoing nationwide protests against economic hardship.
Prior to the protests, a pro-Lagos account on X, @Lagospedia, issued a one-month ultimatum for Igbos in Lagos and South-West states to relocate their businesses back to their region.
In response to this threat, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senate Minority Leader, and Igariwey Enwo, House of Representatives Minority Leader, endorsed the petition on behalf of their southeast colleagues.
The petition references a recent post by Bayo Onanuga, a presidential media aide, who claimed that the protests were orchestrated by supporters of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate.
The lawmakers contend that such allegations exacerbate the rising hostility toward the Igbo community in Nigeria.
In the petition, they cite “Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which states: ‘Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry or exit therefrom.’
“Additionally, Section 15(4) asserts: ‘The State shall foster a feeling of belonging and involvement among the various people of the Federation, ensuring that loyalty to the nation supersedes sectional loyalties.’
The South-East caucus has called upon the IGP to take decisive action against the promoters of this campaign.
They urge the police to identify and prosecute those responsible for disseminating these divisive messages.
“In light of these constitutional provisions, we assert that this #IgboMustGo campaign violates the Constitution, and its advocates must be held accountable.
“We therefore urge you to exercise your authority to ensure the identification and prosecution of these individuals to the fullest extent of the law.”
