Nigerians on Twitter are trending the #IamIgboToo hashtag to express their solidarity with the people of South-East, Nigeria, a day after a threat was issued against the region.
On Tuesday during a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission, the President Muhammadu Buhari on how the burning of INEC offices may cause a constitutional dilemma ahead of the 2023 elections.
Buhari said, “Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.”
Already, Buhari’s statement had been met with outrage on social media and the #IamIgboToo hashtag takes it a step further.
Rapper, MI Abaga via his verified Twitter handle said, “If you have an Igbo friend.. please post a message of solidarity using the hashtag #ozoemena #IamIgboToo and share online!
Let love defeat hate!!”
https://twitter.com/MI_Abaga/status/1400006950046339075?s=19
A musician, Johnny Drille in his own solidarity post, said; “I served in Enugu state and it was one of the best moments of my life. The indigenous people were some of the kindest people I ever met. I’m also blessed with fans who are also Igbo and have some of the most beautiful hearts. #IamIgboToo #ozoemena
I served in Enugu state and it was one of the best moments of my life. The indigenous people were some of the kindest people I ever met. I’m also blessed with fans who are also Igbo and have some of the most beautiful hearts. #IamIgboToo #ozoemena
— Johnny Drille (@Johnnydrille) June 2, 2021
A popular Twitter user, Sally Suleiman tweeted, “I love my Igbo friends
I support the Igbo people. Thanks to the Igbos for their contribution to our Economy. We hear you loud and clear, and we would always support you. Igbo Amaka #IamIgboToo.”
I love my Igbo friends
I support Igbo people
Thanks to the Igbos for their contribution to our Economy
We hear you loud and clear, and we would always support you.
Igbo Amaka ❤️❤️❤️#IamIgboToo
— Sally Suleiman (@is_salsu) June 2, 2021
Former presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba tweeted, “The President is working against the Terrorist IPOB, not the Igbo. I believe the President, as all Nigerians do, loves the Igbo. There is no better way to be #IamIgbotoo than to liberate the region of the menace of the IPOB killers and arsonists, that have imprisoned the Igbo.”
The President is working against the Terrorist IPOB, not the Igbo. I believe the President, as all Nigerians do, loves the Igbo.
There is no better way to be #IamIgbotoo than to liberate the region of the menace of the IPOB killers and arsonists, that have imprisoned the Igbo.
— Adamu Garba II (@adamugarba) June 2, 2021
A Twitter user, Bella, a Nigerian of Southeastern origin said, “As an Igbo person going through this hashtag, my eyes well up in tears.
“I am very happy with the support I’m seeing from. non-Igbos who understand the pain of being Igbo in Nigeria, thank you.#IamIgboToo”
As an igbo person going through this hashtag, my eyes well up in tears. I am very happy for the support I'm seeing from.non igbos who understand the pain of being igbo in Nigeria, thank you.#IamIgboToo
— Bellla_oh (@Bella25300260) June 2, 2021
Also, a social activist, Aisha Yesufu said; “My name is Aisha Somtochukwu Yesufu #IAmIgbo.
“Any threat to Igbo people is a threat to me. An attack to Igbo people is an attack on me. I condemn the 1967 threats from President Buhari to the Igbo people. No Nigerian is more Nigerian than any Nigerian.”
My name is Aisha Somtochukwu Yesufu#IAmIgbo.
Any threat to Igbo people is a threat to me.
An attack to Igbo people is an attack on me.
I condemn the 1967 threats from President Buhari to the Igbo people
No Nigerian is more Nigerian than any Nigerian pic.twitter.com/VMHeYkWY2e— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) June 2, 2021
Meanwhile, Twitter has deleted the tweet wherein the President threatened to deal with ‘people’ who didn’t learn from the civil war.
ABACITYBLOG gathered that several users reported the President’s Twitter account.
In Twitter Rules and policies, the company explains the process of removing a tweet considered to have violated its rules.
“When we determine that a Tweet violated the Twitter Rules, we require the violator to remove it before they can Tweet again. We send an email notification to the violator identifying the Tweet(s) in violation and which policies have been violated. They will then need to go through the process of removing the violating Tweet or appealing our review if they believe we made an error,” it wrote.
