Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned the recent call for Igbo people to leave Lagos and other Southwestern states, labeling it as “absolute nonsense.” Speaking during a media interaction at his Ikoyi office, George, a Lagos native, denounced the proposal as unfounded and divisive.
He pointed out that those behind these hateful messages are not true Lagos residents but individuals from neighboring states who have been welcomed and accommodated in Lagos. George highlighted the historical connection between the Igbo community and Lagos, recalling how former President Nnamdi Azikiwe, an Igbo leader, was deeply involved in the nationalist movement alongside Lagosian Sir Herbert Macaulay, long before Obafemi Awolowo and his group arrived from the UK.
George emphasized that Lagos has a long-standing tradition of welcoming traders and supporting their businesses. He stressed that the call for Igbo people to leave is baseless and reflects a misunderstanding of Lagos’s inclusive culture. “It’s ridiculous,” George said. “Why would we ask them to leave when they contribute to our community and pay their taxes?”
