“Some malevolent minds may take advantage of Mr Joe Igbokwe’s recklessness and unsubstantiated rethorics to spread mistrust, cause disunity and escalate mischief in such manner and disguise, as may cause fingers to be wrongly pointed at the Igbo in Lagos.”
By Gideon Njoku
Joe Igbokwe, an Aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State is in trouble with his people, the Igbo.
Igbokwe, a staunch member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and an ardent loyalist of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, has been in the inner circle and cabinet of the Lagos State Government from the Tinubu era as Governor, till date.
He says he is the Leader of the Igbo in the APC, a position he, a few months ago, struggled for with Hon Idimogu, an Imo State indigene in the Lagos State House of Assembly. But that struggle for position was an exercise in futility on the part of Idimogu.
In the Lagos APC, Igbokwe is as constant as the Northern star, and the recognised leader of the Igbo APC. He is in the inner circle, he claims.
His problem with his people now stems from a viral video statement/message he sent to the Igbo. To make it trickle down, he spoke in Igbo language.
A summary of what said:
Igbokwe said that Igbo youths were planning to attack Lagos; that they plan to replicate what is happening in the South-east in Lagos – the torching of Police Commands and installations, the killing of Security Agents in their scores, including soldiers, and unprecedented violence; the destruction of infrastructure.
Igbokwe had no evidence as such, except he claims that having lived very long in Lagos, having worked in, and with Lagos State Government from 1999 till date, and being entrenched in markets, the Church and more, in Lagos, he has credible sources. He meanders everywhere in Lagosians.
So, he warned the Igbo youths involved in the alleged plan to shelve it as would be suicidal. He asked them to restrict their attacks to their Zone, South-east. “Destroy your Zone, if you so desire, but leave Lagos alone”. He warns that Lagos would be their waterloo, as those who own Lagos know of their plans, and are waiting for them. He pointed accusing fingers at IPOB.
He also warned against the foolishness of attacking Lagos, comparing it to one cutting one’s nose to spite one’s face, thus reminding them of the huge investment of the Igbo which will, automatically, be destroyed in revenge. “Why do you want to destroy your own people?”, he asked.
Inexplicably, he said the Yoruba are holding the Igbo responsible for the unprecedented destruction in Lagos, during the #EndSARS protest.
But, he had no proof to support his allegations, especially, since the Panel set up by the Government has not handed over its report.
Igbokwe, also, called out Igbo Leaders, and wondered why Traditional Rulers, Igbo elders and Religious Leaders are keeping quiet in the face of the planned attack on Lagos by Igbo youths, and the destruction of the South-east.
But stung by such serious allegations against the Igbo, by their own, apparently, without any shred of evidence, except hear-say, Ndigbo Lagos, the Umbrella Body of all Igbo Organisations in Lagos, has described Igbokwe as an embarrassment, and dismissed his allegations and assumptions as reckless and irresponsible.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its Director of Communications and Strategy, Prince Tony Eze, dated May 10, the Association, stopping short of calling Igbokwe, at once, a saboteur and betrayer of his people, said Igbokwe’s allegations were “mischievous, false, baseless and inciting.”
They wondered how Igbokwe could put the #EndSARS destruction on the Igbo when investigations were still on. They also wondered how he knew those responsible for the violence and killings in the South-east when the Governors from the Zone, and Security Agencies said investigations were still on.
They asked Security Agencies to invite Igbokwe so as to get some more information from him on the plans to attack Lagos since he seems to have knowledge of it.
Following, the full text of the statement by Ndigbo Lagos, in reaction to Igbokwe’s damning warning and allegations.
NDIGBO LAGOS REFUTAL TO JOE IGBOKWE’S INCENDIARY FALSE CLAIMS
“We, at Ndigbo Lagos, have just listened to the video making the rounds in the Social Media today 9th May 2021.
:In the said video, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, a Political appointee of Lagos State Government and Special Adviser Drainage and Water Resources, claimed insider knowledge of a clandestine plot by some Igbo youths who he believes are IPOB members, to kill, to burn down Police stations and public infrastructure in Lagos.
“NDIGBO LAGOS the umbrella body of all Igbo organizations in Lagos, wish to state as follows:
“1. That we are saddened by the claims of Mr. Igbokwe, which we believe are mischievous, false, baseless and inciting.
“2. That the Governments of the South Eastern States of Nigeria and various Security Agencies in the country have initiated investigations to unravel the persons behind the killings and destruction of properties in the South East, and we believe strongly in their competence and ability to unravel the masterminds and bring them to justice.
“3. That, as usual, with such serious investigations the Police and other Security Agencies expect support through information from responsible citizens of which Joe Igbokwe, being a government insider, is very much aware of ,and in a good position to comply with.
“4. That rather than do this, Mr. Igbokwe irresponsibly went to town with his personal conclusions on who these perpetrators are and what evil they are planning for Lagos, notwithstanding the ongoing official investigations. This probably goes to suggest that Mr. Igbokwe knows more than the ordinary eyes could see, and should be invited by the relevant security agency to clarify his source which he claims is credible.
“5. That the Lagos State Government had initiated and conducted investigation on what happened during the EndSars protest, and are well equipped with relevant information on the perpetrators of that heinous act.
“6. That the Igbo were not the cause of the Biafran war, and have no intention to engage into any acts as may suggest any intention of such in the foregoing circumstance.
“7. That we condemn, in clear terms, the killings going on all over the country, including in the South-east, and sympathize with the families of officers and civilians, who have had to endure the loss of their dear ones. We pray their soul to rest perfect in the bossom of our Lord!
“8. We wish to reiterate that Igbo youths are NOT killers, neither are they arsonists, but are positively recognized as hardworking contributors to the development of our Country. We have been victims rather than perpetrators of killings, burnings and looting in Nigeria.
“9. That it has become expedient for us to issue this rebuttal, in the light of the hightened tension in the Country, being convinced that some malevolent minds may take advantage of Mr. Joe Igbokwe’s recklessness with unsubstantiated rethorics to spread mistrust, cause disunity and escalate mischief in such manner and disguise, as may cause fingers to be wrongly pointed at the Igbo in Lagos.
“We, therefore, call on Mr. Joe Igbokwe to desist from reaching hasty conclusions, and spreading of falsehood.
“11. Finally, we want to remind Mr. Igbokwe that respect for the elderly is one of the cornerstones of Igbo values and civilized behavior. Hence, we call upon him to retrace his steps and apologize to Chief Mbazulike Amechi for the unconscionable remarks he made against him.”
Igbokwe is yet to issue a response to the Ndigbo statement.
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