On Tuesday, the Coalition of Igbo Political and Social-Cultural Groups in Lagos, comprising 16 different Igbo organizations, announced their decision to distance themselves from the nationwide protests scheduled for August 1-10, 2024.
They advised Igbo traders and residents in Lagos to stay home and refrain from opening their businesses on the protest days to avoid potential violence.
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The planned protests aim to address current economic hardships in Nigeria.
However, the coalition expressed its concern over the safety of the Igbo community in Lagos, which has previously faced accusations of organizing protests and subsequent attacks.
Sunday Ossai, the coalition’s president, emphasized that while acknowledging the country’s economic difficulties, the current downturn is not unique to Nigeria nor caused solely by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
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He stressed that the Igbo community in Lagos is not involved in the protest organization and urged members to avoid participating in or supporting the demonstrations.
“Ndigbo have been wrongly blamed for protest activities in the past, and we want to make it clear that we are not associated with the upcoming protests. We urge our members to stay home and avoid their businesses during the protest period to ensure their safety,” Ossai said.
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Anselm Njoku, the coalition’s coordinator, underscored that Lagos is a Yoruba-majority state and that the Igbo community has significantly contributed to its development.
He asserted that the Igbo people are committed to constructive engagement rather than destructive actions and urged patience with President Tinubu’s administration, given the inherited economic challenges.
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Njoku also commended the president for approving the South East Development Commission and appealed for a political solution to the release of Nnamdi Kanu rather than a judicial one.
Sunday Eze, President-General of the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos, reaffirmed that the Igbo community, known for their business acumen, is not involved in vandalism.
He called on the state government to ensure the protection of Igbo properties and families during the protests.
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Other leaders at the press conference echoed the sentiment, advising Igbo traders to focus on their businesses and avoid being drawn into the protests.
