The Coalition of Igbo Political, Social, and Cultural Groups has urged Igbos of all backgrounds, stakeholders, residents, traders, and industry captains in Lagos not to participate in the planned August 1 protest.

In a press conference in Ikeja, Lagos, the coalition stated, “We are distancing ourselves and the entire Ndigbo in Lagos from the planned protest by some unscrupulous faceless elements, who are partly using Igbo nomenclatures to fan the embers of unsound agitation.

“Nigerians should cultivate a culture of dialogue with the government and provide constructive criticism rather than resorting to unnecessary provocative protest and violence.”

The details of the press statement…

After conducting an empirical analysis and overview of Nigeria’s current economic situation, we as a group agree that the country is experiencing hardship.

However, the current economic downturn is not limited to Nigeria; other developed and developing nations are in a similar situation.

It is therefore imperative to note that the current economic situation confronting our country is not the fault of the current government led by President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Rather, it is a cumulative effect and result of previous bad governance, which cannot be logically and sensibly attributed to the current administration of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has only been in office for a year.

In light of the foregoing, we believe that a national protest at this time, when the federal government is attempting to revitalise the economy, will be counterproductive and therefore unwise.

As a result, we are distancing ourselves and the entire Ndigbo community in Lagos from the planned protest by some unscrupulous faceless individuals who are using Igbo nomenclature to fan the flames of unsound agitation.

Nigerians should cultivate a culture of dialogue with the government and offer constructive criticism rather than resorting to unnecessary provocative protest and violence.

In this regard, we urge all Igbos of all ethnicities, stakeholders, residents, traders, and industry leaders not to participate in the protest.

Lagos state is a Yoruba land, and Ndigbo residents have made significant contributions to its development, so they cannot be used or coerced in any way to destroy assets.

We are not destructive, and we cannot be among those who seek to destroy what we have contributed to and built together. Ndigbo are not wired for destruction, but rather for development wherever we live.

Let it be known that, according to all intelligence gatherings, the faceless organisers of this planned protest are unknown to us, are not Igbos, and are simply hiding under Ndigbo names, dropping Igbo names to cause confusion and gain credibility.

We are also taking this opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the South East Development Commission and for deeming it appropriate to appoint an Igbo illustrious son as Chief of Naval Staff, thereby giving the Igbo ethnic group a say in the national security structure. We would be grateful if the President would make the Commission rewarding and beneficial to Ndigbo in general, affecting the lives of people in that zone.

In light of Our President’s strong relationship with the people of the South – East, we urge him, as a gentleman Democrat, to expedite action on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release through a political process rather than a judicial one, as many prominent Ndigbo leaders have recently done.

This coalition is made up of sixteen large groups, including The Council of Ndieze in Lagos state, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, South-East Forum, Lagos, Igbo Mandate, Seven Igbo Town Unions, Igbo Speaking Community, Igbo Vision APC Lagos, Igbo Market Men and Women Associations and Leaders, and Ndigbo In APC (authentic).

Signed: Anatuanatu Coordinator, High Chief Anselm Njoku.
Eze Dr. Uche Dimgba, Eze Ndigbo Ikeja, and BOT Chairman of the Council of Ndieze, Lagos State.
Eze Chris Offia, Chairman of the Council of Ndieze, Lagos State.
Chief Chris Ekeocha is the chairman and president of seven Igbo town unions in Lagos state.
Hon. Nelly Okafor, President, Market Women
Chief Sunday Eze is the President-General of the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos State.
Chief Sunday Ossia, President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State.