Former Governorship aspirant in Anambra State and an elder statesman, Dr Chike Obidigbo (Osisioma) has called on President Bola Tinubu as Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to issue an executive order pronouncing a separate nation for the Igbo instead of unwarranted wranglings that often lead to avoidable destruction and bloodshed.
Obidigbo said some of Tinubu’s foot soldiers in Lagos believe that Igbo constitute his only obstacle to perpetual control of the country, saying that Igbo Must Go assertion was championed by Tinubu’s enemies who crave to promote Yoruba hegemony.
He said in a statement that it was very unfortunate that President Tinubu had become surrounded by ethnic bigots and political riffraff, who believed that Yoruba would be better off without the contributions of citizens from other parts of Nigeria, probably ignorant of the fact that the success of any administration must be rooted in cooperation and collaboration with allies from other camps.
“I, for one, think that time has come for the powers that be to come out and issue an executive order pronouncing a separate nation for the Igbo, instead of all these unwarranted wranglings that often lead to avoidable destructions, sometimes, bloodshed.
“I once again call the attention of President Tinubu and several well meaning Yoruba and other Nigerians on the misguided activities of some unrepentant Yoruba ethnic bigots, championing the ejection of Igbo from Lagos and entire Yoruba land.
“Their agitation is now becoming very clear, very loud, very threatening, and with no meaningful and convincing official reprimand or any security challenges.
“It could be recalled that recently, an X (formerly Twitter) user with the handle, LagosPedia, had threatened to start a massive protest from August 20 to 30, 2024, under the hashtag #IgboMustGo#, to compel Igbo out of Lagos State and by extension, all of Yoruba land.
“This announcement by #LagosPedia did not come as a total surprise, because it is a reflection of the body language of some political rabble rousers that are unfortunately loyal to the President of the Federal Republic of all Nigeria.
It must be noted that while Igbo from mainly South Eastern and other parts of Nigeria are not without homeland, our decision to see every part of Nigeria as home is in the spirit and letter of the country’s Constitution, so must never be used against us. Rather, it should be considered a big positive direction to the desired unity of the country.
“At this point in time, it has become necessary for the promoters of #IgboMustgo to be reminded that Igbo have neither been soldiers of occupation nor economic parasites, in any part of the world they find themselves. If these ethnic hirelings think that the only way they could be productive to themselves and their environment is to execute xenophobia attack on Igbo, they are widely mistaken.
“It is on record that from 1967 to 1970 Igbo, with her treasured neighbours desired a nation of their own and till today their youths have renewed the agitation for a referendum to undergird Nigerians’ resolve to remain one nation. The agitation is still very valid till date, so, instead of these veiled threats, those behind #LagosPedia should prevail on their principals to consider more civilized ways of achieving that same goal, with less rancour and bitterness.
“I have personally and convincingly said that Nigeria as a country is far too large for one black man, with our low exposure level, and low mental capability to manage successfully and profitably.
Since this agitation is becoming a recurring decimal, will it then not be better for all separatist agitators, including their silent supporters to initiate civilized methods of dismembering this contraption called our country.
“Given the boldness and effrontery of #LagosPedia to articulate and set a date to begin #IgboMustGo protest, the salient implication of the pronouncement is not lost on well-meaning Igbo. And we are ready to oblige the sponsors if they come out in a more civilized manner. It is most unfortunate that younger Nigerians are being schooled to mistake divisive rhetoric as real politic. Right from the 2019 general elections up until now, exclusion of Igbo from Nigeria in all ramifications, has become an easy plea to divert attention from the malaise plaguing the country as a whole.
“Igbo had been threatened with possible massive drowning in the Lagoon if they voted according to their God-given conscience and against the dictates of potentates. The violence and threats got to a dizzying height during last year’s elections, when homes and business premises of Igbo were targeted and destroyed under many guises and policies, while government agencies and security outfits looked the other way, and in some cases openly participating in the atrocious treatments.
” In all these vengeful and punitive measures against Igbo in a country where they are true bonafide, nobody remembers that Igbo make positive contributions to the development of their areas of residence. Not long ago, even our venerated Prof. Wole Soyinka of all persons, expressed the hope that Mr Peter Obi does not bother to contest the 2027 presidential election.
“As if that was not enough, a Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, another Yoruba elite blatantly and with no valid proof accused the former Anambra State Governor, Mr Obi of sponsoring the ongoing nationwide good governance protest, just to serve the same purpose of ethnic baiting of Igbo. Ndigbo wanted to participate in the on going nationwide protest. They became automatically profiled. They decided to withdraw, they became stigmatized. Where then lies Igbo comfort inside Nigeria, “Obidigbo queried.
