Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor  has denounced a controversial post by @Lagospedia on X (formerly Twitter) calling for the expulsion of Igbo people to vacate from Lagos and the South-West.

The post, which went viral on July 27, 2024, announced a planned #IgboMustGo protest from August 20 to 30, 2024, sparking widespread outrage on social media.

Gboyega Akosile, the Governor’s media aide, in a statement on Thursday, stated that the governor and indeed, the Lagos State Government “wish to distance themselves from the reckless, divisive and dangerous rhetoric, saying Lagos remains home to every Nigerian citizen regardless of their ethnic nationality.”

According to him, Sanwo-Olu views the post as not only reckless and divisive but also an attempt to sow a seed of discord between the Yoruba in the South-West and other tribes, “especially those who have made Lagos their permanent place of abode.”

“The governor appeals to Lagosians not to allow any person or group of individuals to create tensions in the state, calling on the security agencies to promptly investigate those behind the handle and bring them to justice.

“Mr Governor enjoins Lagosians to ignore the post and any post of that nature, promising to double his efforts towards ensuring lasting peace in the state,” Akosile said.

The governor’s message is coming hours after the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, called on the Federal Government to investigate and take action against those responsible for the hashtag “IgboMustGo” on X.

In a post on his verified Facebook page on Thursday, the former Vice President labelled the hashtag as divisive and a threat to peace and security.

“The recent call on X (formerly Twitter) for a protest under the hashtag #IgboMustGo, demanding the forced relocation of Igbo people from Lagos and other South-West states, is deeply troubling and fundamentally opposed to the principles of unity and coexistence that define our nation. Such rhetoric is not only divisive but also endangers our peace and security, as our Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to live and work freely anywhere in the country,” Atiku’s post partly read.