Afenifere kicks against ‘Igbo-Must-Go’ threat, divisive rhetoric

• Says move capable of disrupting Nigeria’s existence, unity
• Condemns display of Russia’s flags by protesters
• Akinyelure urges protesters to retreat, not to fall for hidden agenda

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has condemned the divisive ‘Igbo-Must-Go’ threat making the rounds in some parts of the country, stressing that such ethnic bigotry could destabilise Nigeria’s unity and existence.

Afenifere, which frowned on such inflammatory posts circulating on social media platforms, emphasised that such divisive rhetoric has the potential to sow seeds of discord and conflict among ethnic groups in the country.

The mainstream Yoruba group, in a communiqué after its expanded National Executive Committee meeting, yesterday, at the Lagos residence of its leader, Ayo Adebanjo, urged the government to take decisive actions to address the ugly trend to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians, regardless of ethnic background.

In the communiqué signed by Adebanjo and the National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, the group stressed that the nationwide protest against bad governance ought not to have taken place if the Federal Government had addressed the grievances of the protesters.

Afenifere, however, berated the action of some protesters who displayed foreign flags, maintaining that the era of military incursion into politics is gone forever.

MEANWHILE, a former senator that represented Ondo Central District at the National Assembly, Ayo Akinyelure, has urged youths protesting against bad governance in the country to retreat to avoid further pressure on the economy.

According to Akinyelure, the youths must not allow themselves to be used by those in the background pushing their selfish political agenda.

The former lawmaker, in a statement, appealed to the protesting youths to retreat from the streets.

He said that they had made their points and that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration would attend to all the complaints of the youths.

He said: “The sponsors of the protest should not be allowed to lead you to destroy our country. They all have their hidden agenda. Most of their children are not in Nigeria. They are outside Nigeria schooling or working, and enjoying their lives with the money looted from Nigeria.

“Therefore, my advice is for all the youths, men and women of great intellect of our great country to stop this protest and chat a way forward and not backward any longer.”