Skip to main content

Biafra: Nigeria's Vice-President Promises Hate Speech Crackdown as Ethnic Tensions Rise

Nigeria’s Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has promised to clamp down on hate speech and ethnic incitement after a recent call by groups in the north of the country to expel members of the Igbo ethnic group.
Osinbajo, who is leading the West African country while President Muhammadu Buhari is on sick leave, met with leaders of northern states in the capital Abuja on Tuesday in a bid to calm recent tensions between some of the country’s main ethnic groups.
Last week, a coalition of activist groups calling itself the Northern Youth Groups gave Igbos living in northern Nigeria three months to leave the region or face forcible expulsion. The Igbo are one of Nigeria’s three main ethnic groups and are traditionally based in the east of the country.
Nigeria’s Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has promised to clamp down on hate speech and ethnic incitement after a recent call by groups in the north of the country to expel members of the Igbo ethnic group.
Osinbajo, who is leading the West African country while President Muhammadu Buhari is on sick leave, met with leaders of northern states in the capital Abuja on Tuesday in a bid to calm recent tensions between some of the country’s main ethnic groups.
Last week, a coalition of activist groups calling itself the Northern Youth Groups gave Igbos living in northern Nigeria three months to leave the region or face forcible expulsion. The Igbo are one of Nigeria’s three main ethnic groups and are traditionally based in the east of the country.

The call evoked the run-up to the Biafran war, which raged for three years following the declaration of an independent republic of Biafra in 1967 and left at least 1 million people dead. Prior to the secession of Biafra, Igbos had fled to eastern Nigeria after facing persecution in other parts of the country, following a 1966 coup d’etat carried out by mainly Igbo soldiers.
Nigeria is sharply divided along ethnic and religious lines. Besides the Igbo, the other two main ethnicities are the Yoruba, concentrated in the west, and the Hausa-Fulani, mainly in the north. The country’s 180 million-strong population is split between a mostly Muslim north and largely Christian south.
“It is the resolve of the government that none will be allowed to get away with making speeches that can cause sedition or that can cause violence, especially because when we make these kinds of pronouncement and do things that can cause violence or destruction of lives and property we are no longer in control,” said Osinbajo, according to Nigeria’s Premium Times.
Osinbajo is due to meet with Igbo leaders from eastern Nigeria on Wednesday, before holding a joint meeting with northern and eastern leaders later this week.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FG set to deploy first batch of CNG vehicles ahead of Tinubu's one year in office come 29th May 2024

  FG announce plans to deploy the first batch of CNG Vehicles ahead of first anniversary of Tinubu in office on May 29th 2024. Said N100 billion was allocated to purchase 5,500 CNG vehicles, 100 electric buses, and over 20,000 CNG conversion kits. Deployment of CNG vehicles is parts of FG’s vision to have at least one million natural gas propelled vehicles on the roads by 2027. The Federal Government has announced plans to start the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and tricycles   for mass transit ahead of Tinubu administration’s first anniversary on May 29th. The move was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Sunday April 21st 2024. According to him, the Federal Government allocated N100 billion last year to purchase 5,500 CNG-powered vehicles (buses and tricycles), 100 electric buses, and over 20,000 CNG conversion kits. The funding, which is part of the N500 billion palliative budget, also suppo
Post a Comment
Read more

CBN asks Nigerian banks to charge 0.5% cybersecurity levy on all transactions

  CBN asks Nigerian banks to charge 0.5% cybersecurity levy on all transactions   Jerry Wright-Ukwu May 7, 2024   Amid the prevailing challenges in Nigeria, deposit money banks across the country will now implement a 0.5% cybersecurity levy on transactions, as announced in a circular issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) dated May 6, 2024. According to the circular addressed to all commercial, merchant, non-interest, and payment service banks, as well as mobile money operators and payment service providers, the levy is in line with the provisions of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) ( amendment ) Act 2024. “Following the enactment of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) ( amendment ) Act 2024 and  pursuant to  the provision of Section 44 (2) (a) of the Act,  ‘a  levy of 0.5% (0.005) equivalent to a half  percent  of all electronic transactions value by the business specified in the Second Schedule of the Act’, is to be remitted to the National Cybersecurity F
Post a Comment
Read more

Reasons why Man United will defeat arsenal this weekend

  Manchester United has the potential to claim victory against Arsenal for several concrete reasons: 1) Home Advantage: Playing at Old Trafford, United will have the backing of their home crowd, which could boost the team's morale and performance 2) Strong Attack: With players like Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Bruno Fernandes, United boasts a formidable attacking force that can break down Arsenal's defense. 3) Tactical Flexibility: Manager Erik ten Hag has shown adaptability in his tactics and can exploit Arsenal's weaknesses by adjusting his game plan accordingly. 4) Improved Defensive Stability: United has conceded fewer goals in recent matches, suggesting an improvement in their defensive capabilities, which could help them keep Arsenal's attackers at bay. 5) Motivation for Top-Four Finish: United's players will be highly motivated to secure a win against Arsenal, as it could significantly boost their chances of securing a top-four finish in the Premi
Post a Comment
Read more