The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, has condemned calls by some Yoruba extremists demanding the exit of Nigerians of Igbo extraction from the South-West.
The organization assured all Nigerians living legitimately in “any part of Yoruba land to entertain no fear about their safety or be afraid of being forced out of the area”.
The assurance was contained in a statement by the organization’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, while reacting to a post by a non-descript social media handle tagged ‘LagosPedia’ which warned Igbos living in Lagos and South-West Nigeria to leave the area within one month.
DAILY POST reports that the post, which went viral on Thursday causing apprehension in Lagos and other parts of South-West, also gave the Igbos one-month ultimatum to vacate the region.
The hashtag #Igbomustgo also called on all Yorubas living in the South-East to “return home”.
The post reads: “Lagosians and every South-West stakeholders should prepare for the massive protest of #IgboMustGo on the 20th – 30th of August.
“They have 1 month from now to leave and relocate their business from all South-West states. We urge all Yorubas living in the South-East to return home.”
But Afenifere not only dismissed the threat, it also declared that those behind the unwarranted, provocative and divisive campaign “are out to cause disaffection among Ndigbo and Yorubas”.
Afenifere went further to state that there is no plan anywhere to expel any group of people who are peacefully doing their businesses from any part of the South-West.
The organization added, “Those who are being called to be ousted from the South-West are the unscrupulous herders who are making life difficult for our farmers and rural women.
“In this wise, our Igbo brothers and sisters living in Lagos and the South-West should not entertain any fear of expulsion. We are all Nigerians”.