A nationalist group in southwestern Nigeria has sparked controversy after issuing strong remarks against alleged political expansion by pro-Igbo groups in Lagos, warning that the region would resist what it described as an attempted “political takeover”.
Think Yoruba First President, Aare Kurunmi Kakanfo, claimed Yoruba nationalists had previously prevented the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) from destabilising Lagos through protests and would now resist what he alleged was a fresh strategy through electoral mobilisation.
“We stopped them from using Yorubaland as a launch pad for chaos. We will also stop them from using politics as a means of war in Yorubaland,” he said. “The entire South-West will not be shared with Igbos.”
The remarks are likely to deepen ethnic and political tensions in Nigeria’s commercial capital, where debates over identity, voting patterns and political influence have increasingly shaped public discourse in recent election cycles.
Critics have condemned such rhetoric as divisive and inflammatory, warning that ethnic polarisation could further strain social cohesion in the multi-ethnic region. Supporters of the comments, however, argue they reflect growing concerns among some Yoruba groups over political representation and regional control.
Neither the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) nor representatives of Igbo political organisations had publicly responded to the claims at the time of reporting.
