The Lagos State government may have officially disowned @Lagospedia, the social media account that infamously propagated hate speech against the Igbo and called for them to be expelled from the southwest. However, many of its appointees followed the handle — sometimes even retweeting it — until it became extinct, following extended focus on its violations of the constitutional right to freedom of where to live.

On Friday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu distanced his administration from Lagospedia’s hate comments, Gboyega Akosile, his special adviser on media and publicity, signing a statement that branded the handle’s comments as “reckless, divisive and a dangerous rhetoric”.

However, Àkọsílẹ̀, himself was a follower of Lagospedia. In fact, he was still following the handle as he posted the state government’s statement on Friday.

READ MORE: Lagos Gov’t Disowns ‘Lagospedia’, the X Handle Behind #IgboMustGo

Jubril Gawat, Sanwo-Olu’s senior special assistant on new media; Wale Ajetunmobi, senior special assistant on media; and Alabi Opeyemi Oladimeji, senior special assistant on youth mobilisation to Sanwo-Olu, were all following Lagospedia on X before it was deactivated.

EQ also recalls that Akosile and Ajetunmobi engaged the handle positively in the past.

But Mr Boyega is following the account! pic.twitter.com/fmhJ8pNlVt— Ekwensu/Esu/Satan (@PaschalNwosu5) August 2, 2024

After EQ’s viral report about Lagospedia’s notoriety for publishing hate comments against the Igbo and asking them to be pushed out of the southwest, the handler altered the page from ‘Lagospedia’ to ‘Lagospidia’.

Another user then picked up the @Lagospedia handle as soon as the original @Lagospedia switched to @Lagospidia.

But, finally, @Lagospidia, the original @Lagospedia, was deactivated on X on Saturday.

A different has reclaimed the Lagospedia handle. Screenshot from X. CREDIT: EQ

After EQ’s report about Lagospedia’s notoriety for publishing hate comments against the Igbo and asking them to be pushed out of the southwest, the handler change the page from ‘Lagospedia’ to ‘Lagospidia’. Screenshot from X. CREDIT: EQ

Similalrly, Dada Olusegun, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, had been following Lagospedia before it was outed.

READ MORE: Ex-NERC Chair Sam Amadi Petitions IGP Over Lagospedia’s #IgboMustGo Tweets

Clockwise from the top: Ajetunmobi, Àkọsílẹ̀, Oladimeji and Gawat. COLLAGE: Joseph Adeiye/EQ

READ ALSO: ALERT: ‘Lagospedia’, a Pro-Lagos Handle, is Spreading Anti-Igbo Hate on X

In Friday’s statement, Sanwo-Olu claimed his attention had been drawn to Lagospedia’s July 27 post on August 2. He then called on the security agencies to promptly investigate those behind the handle.

This only came after Sam Amadi, a former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), petitioned Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police, asking for everyone connected to the handle to be investigated and prosecuted on July 31.

Lagospedia’s final call against Igbos violates Section 41, Subsection 1 of the Nigerian Constitution, which states: Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.
The post OBSERVED: Sanwo-Olu Distanced Himself From Igbo-Hating ‘Lagospedia’, But His Appointees Were Following the Handle appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.