Lagos Ndigbo distances self from national protest, urges Igbo traders to stay home

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The Coalition of Igbo Political and Social-Cultural Groups, as well as market leaders in Lagos State, has distanced themselves from the proposed 10-day national hunger protest, stating that Ndigbo will not participate in any demonstration.

The Coalition, made up of 16 large groups, which included the Council of Ndieze in Lagos, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, South-East Forum in Lagos, Igbo Mandate, seven Igbo Towns Unions, Igbo Speaking Community, Igbo Vision APC Lagos, Igbo Market Men and Women Associations, and Ndigbo in APC, advised Igbo traders to stay home and not open their businesses on days of the protest, fixed for August 1 to 10, to avoid being attacked.

The Igbo stakeholders in Lagos State noted that, while there is no dispute that there is hardship in the country, the current economic situation bedevilling the country is not limited to Nigeria and was not caused by the incumbent government led by President Bola Tinubu.

They said the present situation of things in the country is a cumulative effect and result of past bad governance, which logically and sensibly cannot be attributed to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which is barely one year in the saddle.

Speaking during a press conference held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, the Coordinator of the Coalition, High Chief Anselm Njoku, said a national protest at a time when the Federal Government is trying to revamp the economy is going to be counterproductive, hence ill advised. 

He said, “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 unsounded agitation. Nigerians should develop a culture of dialogue with the government and deploy constructive criticism without resorting to unnecessary provocative protests and violence".