The leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) said on Monday that Igbos are ready to leave Nigeria, News About Nigeria reports.
The group said this following calls by some people in the Southwest for Igbos to leave the region.
In a statement released by its Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, IPOB lashed out at the facilitators and purveyors of the “IgboMustGo” campaign in the Southwestern part of the country.
The statement reads, “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 hypnotically 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 is a high chance that the proponents of the “IgboMustGo” are sponsored by high-profile figures in the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government.
“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 for us to be allowed to exit Nigeria peacefully and democratically in order to maintain good neighbourly relationships. However, if Ndigbo is forced to exit Nigeria violently, there’s a possibility that we shall remain hostile neighbours for the foreseeable future.”
The Igbo group, therefore, noted that instead of threatening to unconstitutionally and violently force Igbos out of the Yoruba region, they should tell President Tinubu to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and to organise a referendum for Ndigbo to decide between Biafra and Nigeria.
