From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
President General of Ogbako Igbo Nile, Akpelu Azunna has described protesters calling on Ndigbo to leave Lagos state,as ethnic bigots.
The group has called on President Tinubu to order the arrest of the sponsors whose main objective was to cause ethnic tension between Ndigbo and Yoruba.
Azunna ,warned that Ndigbo would not succumb to intimidation from any quarter and wondered what the hardship protests has to do with Ndigbo as they are neither the organisers nor the sponsors.
In a statement, yesterday, Chinedu Azuka Nsofor, media aide to Azunna,said the group condemned in strong terms the actions of some protesters calling on Ndigbo to leave Lagos, describing them as ethnic bigots and barbarians.
The statement reads, “ What concerns hunger and bad governance protest with” Igbo must go”, most tribal bigots in Nigeria have not deemed it right to join other well meaning Nigerians and groups in Nigeria and in the diaspora to condemn the archaic act of the ignoramus protesters. It should be noted that such hate speeches and actions against our people call for sober reflection.
“ Despite the fact that Ndigbo are the most loving tribe in the world and are ever ready to accommodate everyone ,no matter the tribe or religion, but are at the same time singled out as scapegoats in Nigeria at any little provocation is most worrisome and requires questioning. The government keeps ignoring to bring to book such dangerous protesters and their allies over time which has emboldened others to keep repeating same over time.
*It should be noted that Ndigbo have never called for the exit of any law abiding Nigerian from our land except some criminals masquerading as herdsmen, but whose stocks in trade are to kill, kidnap and destroy Igbo farms and property.
“1 called on president Bola Tinubu’s government to expedite action to bringing the protesters and their sponsors to book as it is the only way Ndigbo will believe he is not aware of those behind the heinous acts against our people”.
Meanwhile, Azunna has called on Ndigbo all over the states of the federation and the world over to work hard and relocate their families and investments back home as it was the only panacea towards building a virile strong economy in Igboland.
“ We urged the governors of the Igbo speaking states to come together, build infrastructures, industries, provide effective security and environmentally friendly atmosphere that will be attractive to Igbo sons and daughters to return home and join hands in building our economy. We applauded Abia and Ebonyi states governors for their positive actions in terms of building infrastructures, industries and conducive environment for economic growth and development in their respective states”.