Prince (Dr) Adedipe Ewenla, a prominent chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and member of Lagos State’s disciplinary committee, has condemned the call for Igbo people to vacate Lagos.
The call, which is associated with the #Igbomustgo protest scheduled from August 20th to 30th, 2024, has been widely criticized.
Dr. Ewenla, who is also a politician and security expert from Alimosho, Lagos State, emphasized that Lagos is home to every Nigerian, regardless of ethnic background. He denounced any attempt to drive out the Igbo community, highlighting their significant contributions to the state’s development.
“The Igbo people have established themselves in the Southwest, contributing positively to our collective growth.
It is unacceptable to demand their removal,” Dr. Ewenla stated.
He urged the Lagos State government and relevant authorities to take decisive action against those inciting ethnic division, calling for immediate investigation, arrest, and prosecution of individuals promoting such hate speech.
Dr. Ewenla underscored that this rhetoric threatens national peace and security.
He reaffirmed that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to live and work anywhere in the country. “Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution ensures that every Nigerian can move freely and reside in any part of the country without fear of expulsion,” he added.
He called for unity and collective efforts to address national challenges rather than fostering division and hate.