- He argued that the proponents of this divisive rhetoric are not true Lagosians
Chief Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned recent calls by unidentified groups urging Igbo people to leave Lagos, branding the campaign as “arrant nonsense” and “sheer stupidity.”
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, George, a Lagos indigene and retired navy officer, dismissed the calls as baseless and unreflective of Lagos’ inclusive culture. “Why should we be saying that the Igbo people should leave? We have grown with them here,” he remarked, emphasizing the longstanding relationship between Lagosians and the Igbo community.
He argued that the proponents of this divisive rhetoric are not true Lagosians, noting, “In Lagos, we welcome traders… That is the culture of Lagos.” George went on to describe the campaign as “arrant stupidity” and insisted that Igbo residents contribute to the state’s economy and pay their taxes like any other citizens.
Recalling history, George highlighted the role of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, an Igbo and Nigeria’s first President, in the nationalist movement alongside his great grand-uncle, Sir Herbert Macaulay. “Why are you fighting them? Does it make sense?” he questioned, urging those spreading such messages to cease immediately.
George further opined that the instigators of this hate campaign are likely not Lagos indigenes but outsiders from neighboring states. He called for an end to the divisive rhetoric, stressing, “The Igbo are contributing to the development of economic activities in Lagos. They are most welcome.”
The controversy arose amid social media campaigns, particularly during the build-up to the #EndBadGovernment protests, which called for the expulsion of Igbo people from Lagos. The uproar prompted President Bola Tinubu to condemn the sentiments in a national broadcast, asserting that there is no place for ethnic division in Nigeria.