By Onyeche Igwe
Serving senators under the aegis of the South-East Caucus said their attention has been drawn to the unfortunate and dangerous ethnic profiling of the Igbo in the ongoing mass protests across the country.
Speaking against the backdrop of some persons threatening genocide against the Igbo in Lagos, the caucus cautioned that such ethnic profiling is unwarranted and, therefore, called for immediate investigation and prosecution of the instigator of such a statement.
They stated their position in a statement in Abuja and signed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Igariwey Iduma Enwo (Leader of the South East Senate Caucus of the National Assembly and Leader of the South East Caucus of the House of Representatives, respectively).
According to the statement, ”For the record, the Igbo nation, in obedience to the advice of their leaders: Governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, parliamentarians, and others in the private sector had taken a reasoned and strategic decision not to participate in the ongoing nationwide protests.
“This is evident in the relative calm experienced in the five south eastern states. We are, therefore, surprised and disappointed, that the Igbo are still made scapegoats and targeted as instigators of protests, as shown in several statements (such as the #IgboMustGo hashtag and call by a certain ‘Lagospedia’ X (Twitter) handle) and videos seen online.
“This dangerous ethnic profiling is unwarranted and must stop. It was such profiling that led to the millions of deaths in Nigeria from the 1950s to the unfortunate civil war in 1967 to 1970.
“Elsewhere in Africa, it led to the genocide in Rwanda and 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 the Igbo across the country to stay away from the protests and remain law-abiding.”
We need decisive action not rhetoric, IBN tells Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu
Meanwhile, the Igbo-Biafra Nationalists, IBN, has called on President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action against the promoters of #Igbomustgo threat in Lagos.
The convener of IBN, Mazi Uche Mefor, made this call to newsmen in Owerri while reacting to the alleged “Igbo must go protest” in Lagos.
He said so far, there was no action in the statements of President Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, about the so-called protest.
He said: “The Igbo-Biafra Nationalists and the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-Determination, hereby, express deep concern over the inadequate response to the ethnic profiling and discrimination against the Igbo community in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos State.
“Mere public statements and cursory references to the issue by Governor Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Tinubu are insufficient. We demand comprehensive and decisive punitive measures against the perpetrators of these heinous acts of ethnic bigotry.
“We call for the robust and comprehensive prosecution of those responsible for the hate publications and ethnic profiling of the Igbo people in Lagos.
“The anti-Igbo policies have provided fertile ground, inspiration, and impetus for hate speeches and publications by racists, including those behind “Lagospedia” and individuals like MC Olumo, who operate without consequence. Governor Sanwo-Olu cannot feign ignorance of these activities.
“This situation is reminiscent of the 1966 pogrom against the Igbo in Nigeria. Allowing such atrocities, ethnic cleansing and genocidal violence against the Igbo to recur in the 21st century would be catastrophic. It is imperative to take proactive measures to prevent a repeat of these historical injustices.
“We urge South-East political representatives, including governors, state House Assembly members, House of Representatives, South-East Senators Forum and other stakeholders such as Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to take decisive action. It is crucial to begin negotiations concerning the future of the Igbo people within Nigeria or contemplate a future outside of Nigeria.”
“We reiterate the necessity for South-East elected representatives to raise these issues on the floor of the National Assembly. Simultaneously, there should be coordinated legal action against the Nigerian state, initiated through the offices of the state attorneys general of each of the South-East states,” he said.
