By Oluseye Ojo
Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation, on Friday assured all Nigerians living legitimately in any part of Yorubaland not to entertain any fear about their safety or being forced out of the zone.
The assurance followed a post by a non-descript social handle tagged ‘LagosPedia’, which warned Igbos living in Lagos and other states in the South-West region of Nigeria to leave the area within one month. The faceless campaigners also called on all Yoruba living in the South-East to return home, threatening that a massive protest of #IgboMustGo would hold from 20th to 30th of August, 2024.
The Afenifere, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, dismissed the threat, and declared that those behind the unwarranted, provocative and divisive campaign “are out to cause disaffection among Ndigbo and Yoruba.”
According to Ajayi, there is no plan anywhere to expel any group of people, who are peacefully doing their businesses from any part of the South West.
“In view of the serious danger, such a call for expulsion poses to peaceful co-existence, Afenifere is hereby calling on the security agencies, police especially, to round up those behind this unpatriotic move as contained in the quoted LagosPedia post.”
He added that South-West is known as one of the most accommodating parts of Nigeria in which everyone who is carrying out legitimate business feels safe, secured and welcomed.
Ajayi saluted Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu of Lagos State for promptly denouncing the campaign of calumny.
Afenifere spokesman used the opportunity to call on those participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest to vacate the streets as the points they are trying to make have been properly registered. He added that Afenifere is discomforted by the human and material losses that accompanied the protest.
