Foremost Igbo leader in Lagos, Joe Igbokwe on Friday said that the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu does not speak for the Igbos.
He urged the people of the state to ignore the narrative making the rounds that Igbo people are responsible for the recent destruction of properties in the state.
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Igbokwe, who is the Special Adviser on Drainage to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and onetime spokesperson of the APC in the state, distanced his kinsmen totally from the arsons.
In a statement he made available to our correspondent, he said, “Igbo I know do not have the character to destroy but to build and that is why we always say in Igbo proverb: Ebe Onye bi ka ona awachi, meaning where you live is where you build your home. Check your streets, check all the markets in Lagos, check Estate developers, check everywhere in the metropolis and see and feel the presence of Igbo. They build anywhere they go and they do not destroy.”
Even though Kanu has debunked the trending audio attributed to him allegedly instigating his people against the Yoruba, Igbokwe reiterated that the IPOB leader dies not speak for the Igbo nation and his opinion does not represent the view of Igbo intelligentsia and businessmen.
He added, “Igbo in Lagos do not possess the character and the courage to invade His Royal Majesty Oba Akiolu’s Palace in Lagos Island, TVC, LTV, Channels TV, Oriental Hotel, GTB, BRT, the Nation, etc.”
The Igbo leader however decried what he called “the political hatred” for the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu especially by the opposition in the South-West.
He stated that while some politicians are busy burning bridges, Asiwaju has built bridges all over the country.
But he noted that despite the hatred, his political relevance and national appeal is unstoppable.
Igbokwe added, “If you are a deep political thinker with great eyes, if you follow political events like I do every day, if you are a good student of politics and if you have third eyes you will know at once that Asiwaju BAT has built an intimidating, formidable and unputdownable political networks across Nigeria to the extent that it is difficult now if not impossible for anybody to stop him from becoming the President of Nigeria in 2023, all things considered.
“Only God can stop him and this I know very well. The strategic ,well coordinated, clinical attacks on his interests in Lagos is well planned, well structured and clinically delivered to stop him in 2023 at all cost but will it stop him? No sir!”