Former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has expressed bewilderment at the genocidal threat for Ndigbo to quit South West, saying that such a call amounts to asking them to exit Nigeria.
Those behind the #IgboMustGo campaign, have given Ndigbo living in Lagos and other parts of South West zone, up to August 20, to relocate to South East.
The former Senate President who spoke with Vanguard in Umuahia, called on South West leaders especially Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to protect the lives and assets of Ndigbo living in the Western region.
Senator Wabara who is the Chairman, Board of Trustees BoT of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, further said that such an unprovoked threat amounted to paying Ndigbo back in the wrong coin for not participating in the nationwide protest against hardship caused by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.
He expressed shock that Ndigbo would be reciprocated with such a genocidal threat even when they did not participate in the nationwide protest rocking many regions including Tinubu’s South West.
“This came to me as a shock and a big surprise. Asking Ndigbo to leave South West is as good as asking us to leave Nigeria.
“I’m so surprised and shocked they could be making such a demand when yesterday, there was no single protest in the entire South East.
“If at home our youths who are suffering the most did not join the protest against an administration headed by a Yoruba man, why then should we be punished? I rather think that Ndigbo deserve accommodation and not ejection by the West.
“In the South West there have been protests unlike South East where there has been no protest at all even when our son is not the President.
“So, it will be a disservice and dishonour to reward us with a genocidal threat to vacate South West. That means we are hated in this country just for being Igbo.
“Therefore, if they are asking us to leave the South West, they should equally help us to leave Nigeria which is not our intention anyway.”
Senator Wabara called on President Tinubu to ensure no harm comes on Ndigbo living anywhere in Nigeria, arguing that the constitution of Nigeria guarantees the right of every Nigerian to live in any part of the country without molestations.
“I call on the President and South West Governors especially Gov. Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to ensure the protection of Ndigbo living in Lagos and other parts of Yoruba land”.