Referendum: Igbo Ready To Leave Nigeria, Says IPOB Amid #IgboMustGo Campaign
IPOB Calls For Referendum, Says Igbo Ready To Leave Nigeria Amid #IgboMustGo Campaign
The Indigenous People of Biafra has condemned the people behind the recent #IgboMustGo campaign in Southwest Nigeria, especially Lagos.
The organisation said in light of that, Igbo people are ready to leave Yoruba land and indeed Nigeria via a referendum.
A statement issued by the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful on Monday, said, “Following the provocative and genocidal “IgboMustGo” proposed protest slated to commence from August 20-30th 2024, by some faceless Yoruba groups and persons, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) wish to remind the Yoruba anti-Igbo groups that Ndigbo are ready to exit Yoruba land and Nigeria via a referendum. Ndigbo will not succumb to any threat from any group or persons to leave any state or region in Nigeria.
“It is laughable that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu was reported to have hypocritically condemned the proponents of the “Igbo Must Go” protest.
“The Governor will not hoodwink Ndigbo with his hypocritical condemnation of those calling for Igbos’ expulsion from the South West Region of Nigeria. The governor was the first to ethnically profile Ndigbo with his biased demolition of Ndigbo’s businesses, properties, and investments in Lagos State.
“There are high chances that the proponents of the “IgboMustGo” are sponsored by high profile persons in the Lagos State Government and in the Federal Government of Nigeria. Nevertheless, Ndigbo are not perturbed. We have seen it all in Nigeria and are prepared for any opportunity to exit Nigeria at any time.
“But it will be more appropriate that we are allowed to exit Nigeria peacefully and democratically in order to maintain good neighborly relationships. However, if Ndigbo are forced to exit Nigeria violently, there’s a possibility that we shall remain hostile neighbors to the foreseeable future.
“The Yoruba tribal bigots and their sponsors must understand that Ndigbo are not moved by threat. We have made up our minds to exit Nigeria, so there is no basis for the threat of violence or genocide agenda tagged “IgboMustGo” protest.
“Instead of threatening to unconstitutionally and violently force Ndigbo out of the Yoruba region, they should tell President Tinubu their brother to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and to organize a referendum for Ndigbo to decide between Biafra and Nigeria. We will gladly vote and leave Nigeria and Yoruba region in peace.
“We are demanding this for them to have peace after we are gone. Ndigbo are more enthusiastic to exit Nigeria than it was in the 1960s.”
The organisation noted that the #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria was “organized by Yoruba and Fulani to lure Ndigbo into destruction, but Ndigbo have learned their lessons”.
He said, “Though, Ndigbo declined to participate in the ongoing protests, yet they are being attacked and accused of being behind the protest. One can imagine what would have become of Ndigbo in the Northern and Western Regions if they had taken part in the ongoing protest.
“Ndigbo has always been victims of every protest in Nigeria. Though Ndigbo are facing the same economic hardship that Tinubu’s government has imposed on Nigerians, however, to avoid being targeted as always, they decided to shun the protest.
“The scenario that led to the genocidal war against Biafrans in 1967-1970 is rearing its ugly head. Ndigbo are not only facing existential threats from the Western region but also from the Northern regions.
“We are calling Ndigbo in the North and West to think home as fast as possible. No amount of threat will make IPOB retreat from our divine mandate of restoring Biafra.”
