General News
…say Igbo are mounting
By Victoria Frances
Shehu Sani, social critic, activist and recently turned admirer and supporter of President Bola Tinubu is wondering why South East did not join the national protest.
It’s either Sani is being sarcastic or deliberately trying to ignore the fact of an attempt to ethnicize the protest by officials of the ruling government who have made spirited efforts to pin the protest on Igbo as the mastermind in other to divert the attention of the protesters and provoke attack on Igbo and their property. Past governments in Nigeria have used this tactic successfully in the past especially during the 1966 coup d etat and subsequent riots in the country including the #endsarsriots of 2020 and 2023 elections where many igbo were attacked and property destroyed.
Realnews findings show that government instigated angst against the Igbo could not gain traction this time around because of the democratization of the media landscape. For instance, just as strident voices of government officials especially Bayo Onanuga, senior special aide to the President on Media, were vocal in their attempt to pin the protest as being instigated by the Igbo, so many Igbo groups and most of all the highest Igbo person in the National Assembly, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth wing heckled the Igbo not to take part in the protest wherever they are nationwide. Consequently, some Igbo men organized parties shown in viral videos singing praises for Tinubu to continue in office for the next eight years.
Sequel to this, all South East States, which have been observing sit-at-home protests every Monday to ask for release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra , IPOB, were quiet during the nationwide strike which began on August 1.
This prompted Sani’s questions in his tweet on his X verified handle stating:
“Non Jme Questions;
“Why did the South East refused to protest when many south easterners were supporting the protest?
“Why did the Northerners refused to protest against Yar’adua and Buhari and they protested against GEJ and BAT?
“Why did the South Westerners always protest against All the Presidents?”
Replying Sani, a netizen, Ben+Bella Diaspora in his tweet on @bendiaspora entitled: “BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY” said as follows:
“South East:
“1. Ndigbo have learned the lessons of Lalupon when a national coup was pinned on them, and Great Britain and the rest of Nigeria exacted more than their pound of flesh for the regrettable events of January 15.
“2. Ndigbo did not vote for APC Buhari and got the 97/3% maltreatment.
“Ndigbo did not vote APC Tinubu and Senator Tinubu and MC Olumo and @aonanuga1956 seek to deliver Heinrich Himmler’s Final Solution to the Igbo Problem: Once and for all.
“So, Ndigbo have to play safe this time ’round. They won’t be scapegoated again.
“South West: Only @DeleFarotimi can speak with authenticity and erudition on that.”
Another netizen, J. Omoja @jamesomoja tweeted, saying: “The answer to your question about the Igbos is simple. They are a soft target for the APC government. Did you not hear people calling it Igbo protest before it began. I am 
% in support of their actions.”
Another netizen identified as Ngene @BatoMuochia said: “The Igbo’s are mourning, a region that lost three prominent persons within two days namely, Iwuanyawu, Sen Ifeanyi Uba , Onyeka Okwuenu. They are protesting in heaven so the other region should continue with the protest , we will join on the eleventh day..”
3rd August, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: ..say Igbo are mounting By Victoria Frances Shehu Sani
