The banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has cautioned Ndigbo against investing in Lagos and northern Nigeria, suggesting that any Igbo person doing so needs a mental health check.
This warning, issued in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday night, was a response to an appeal by a Yoruba individual urging Igbo communities in Lagos to engage in dialogue following the alleged demolition of their businesses by the Lagos State government.
Emma Powerful, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, stated that the invitation for dialogue was merely a tactic to ultimately destroy Igbo businesses in the state.
The statement titled “Ndigbo should ignore every deceptive lobby to invest in Lagos,” added that Igbo businessmen should rather go back to their region to invest.
The statement reads: “The attention of the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu, has been drawn to the deceptive letter from a group of faceless Yoruba Leaders and Stakeholders calling on Igbo communities in Lagos State for a dialogue.
“Ndigbo must not fall into any deception to continue investments in Lagos State, where their investments are not protected.
“As much as IPOB does not oppose any genuine dialogue between the Yorubas and Ndigbo in Lagos State, IPOB will object to any dialogue that is intended to lure Ndigbo to continue investing in the hostile environment of Lagos State.
“Ndigbo have done all they can to belong to Nigeria, but Nigeria keeps rejecting Ndigbo with exclusivity and ethnic bigotry policies. Ndigbo has lost millions of investments and lives in the Northern and Western regions of Nigeria.
“In the North, Ndigbo are always the victims of any religious and political riots during which Northerners destroy, loot, and burn down businesses and properties belonging to Ndigbo.
“Recently, in the Western Region particularly in Lagos State, Biafran businesses and properties have been targeted by the Lagos state Government criminals, and we will no longer tolerate our people to continue investing in Yoruba land.
“Lagos State is not Igboland. Lagos State Government has demolished properties and investment of Ndigbo. Many Igbo dominated markets in Lagos have either been demolished or burnt down and taken over by the Lagos State government. On the basis of the aforementioned, any Igbo person investing in the Northern and Western Regions of Nigeria needs DNA tests.
“IPOB calls on all Biafrans to stop investing in Yoruba land and Arewa land. All investments should be channeled to Biafran Land.
Leave a Reply