One of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party in Lagos state, Chief Joe Igbokwe has clarified the rumours making round the social media that Igbos have hands in the destructions that were done in Lagos as a result of the killings of the #EndSars protesters in Lekki Lagos state.
In a video broadcast made available to 9News Nigeria, Chief Joe Igbokwe said that it is unimaginable for anyone to link the Igbos with the destructions that were carried out by hoodlums in Lagos state citing that Igbos have a lot of stakes in Lagos state that should never suggest that any Igbo would ever nurse the thought of causing destructions of properties in Lagos state.
Judging from the sporadic manner and magnitude of the destructions, as well as taking into cognizance events that culminated to the destructions in Lagos state, Chief Joe Igbokwe explained that Igbos have no capacity and guts to have carried out such acts with the locals watching them. “How on earth would anyone turn the blame to Igbos,” he lamented.
He further said that Igbos are characterised with tendencies of development and progress, and that Igbos believe in building other than destroying and therefore, the unfounded suggestion of thought that Igbos have hands in the destructions is another way of causing tribal division among the Igbos and Yorubas owing that the two tribes have for so long established a mutual friendly relationship that should not be marred at this time by mere rumours.
Chief Joe Igbokwe however blamed the rumours on the video that was shared on social media in which Nnamdi Kanu was seen compelling his blind followers to embark on violence amid the #EndSars protest.
He also said that Nigerians should never take Nnamdi Kanu’s opinion and words seriously because Nnamdi Kanu does not in any way represent Igbo interest and his words do not hold any water among Igbo elites and sundry.
He therefore urged Nigerians especially Yorubas to disregard the foul statements and rants by Nnamdi Kanu who have been known for inciting violence while he is living comfortably in a foreign country. It should be known that Nnamdi Kanu does not hold any leadership position in Igbo land and should not be perceived as a mouthpiece for the Igbos in any way.
Chief Joe Igbokwe also admonished the Igbos to control whatever they say knowing that words once spoken can never be retrieved. He also urged Igbo leaders from all spheres to join hands to dissociate Igbos from Nnamdi Kanu’s type and interest citing that it will never do any good to the Igbo interest.
He also called on the leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo to address the issue as a matter of urgency and make it known unequivocally that Nnamdi Kanu’s statement has nothing to do with the stance of NDIGBO on cultural and political matters.
By Obinna Ejianya @obinna_ejianya (9News Nigeria)
