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Angry crowds reject ex-Kaduna governor, accusing him of fuelling anti-Igbo hostilities.
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Security operatives rush El-Rufai out of Assumpta Cathedral to avert violence.
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Protesters caution Peter Obi against turning Odenigbo platform into political stage.
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, was on Saturday hurriedly evacuated by security operatives from the Odenigbo Lecture held at Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, after a heavy protest broke out over his presence.
The angry crowd, chanting solidarity songs, demanded his immediate removal, insisting he lacked the moral standing to mount a podium of Igbo cultural and intellectual heritage.
They accused him of being a principal actor in past campaigns that undermined the dignity and security of Ndi Igbo.
According to eyewitnesses, the tension escalated rapidly as protesters surrounded the venue, prompting security officials to discreetly whisk El-Rufai away to prevent violence.
Many described the incident as a rejection of what they called “provocative insensitivity” by the organisers.
The protesters also sent a stern warning to former Anambra Governor, Mr Peter Obi, urging him not to exploit the Odenigbo platform for political manoeuvring.
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They stressed that the lecture series must remain a sacred and untainted forum for cultural upliftment, not a battleground for political ambition.
