Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, on Friday said that the South East region of Nigeria is ‘sinking deeper’, no thanks to the actions of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Sharing his experience via his known Facebook page from his last visit to his hometown in Nnewi, Anambra State, earlier this month, Igbokwe said he has it on good authority that IPOB militants are being cheered on by locals.
Among several accusations Igbokwe made against IPOB, the 65-year-old said militants of the controversial organization are now levying and collecting taxes on citizens. He also said IPOB is getting support from Igbo natives living in the diaspora, while lamenting that the secessionist movement “have in no uncertain terms put to danger the economy of South East”.
Read Igbokwe’s full post below:
SOUTH EAST SINKS DEEPER.
I have been keeping it in my Heart what I went through in order to travel to my home town, Nnewi in Anambra State to bury my mother-in- law. I got security reports from all the security agencies in the South East before I travelled. What I was told shocked me to the marrows. Let me share my experiences and the way forward for South East.
1. Commissioner of Police Anambra State told me that when IPOB was attacking the Police Area Command in Nnewi and our people were clapping for them and shouting “Ride on boys, well done boys”. A senior police officer was killed in the process and vehicles, buildings destroyed.
2. Almost all the markets and businesses in the South East now pay IPOB & ESN hoodlums huge sums of money out of fear in order to survive their daily intimidation, abuse and extortion.
3. A friend of mine from Anambra State who live in Lagos told how the bandits and criminals destroyed all the Street lights on the road leading to his compound because they felt the man is using it to monitor them.
4. From my little investigations I discovered that idle hands in the South East, men and women including owners of failed businesses are now neck deep into IPOB and ESN fraudulent activities in the South East. Jobless men and women outside Igboland are now relocating to SE to join the new lucrative business of blackmail, killings, extortions, intimidation etc. They have found a new job in town and it is thriving like mad.
5. IPOB and ESN have promised the innocent souls they are recruiting that they will make local government chairmen, commissioners, Ministers , law makers, etc in their phantom and non existing Republic.
6. IPOB and ESN get a lot of financial and material support from Igbo living abroad and Igbo in Nigeria. Those in Nigeria pay out of fear to secure their security and that of their family members.
7. Only APC governors are doing something to curtail IPOB and ESN excesses in the SE and it looks as if PDP Governors in the South East are giving quiet and tactical support and encouragement to the proscribed dangerous organization.
8 IPOB and ESN bandits have in no uncertain terms put to danger the economy of SE. The zone known for Commerce and industry is being decimated and rendered nugatory under our very eyes. All things considered the enterprising Zone has lost trillions of Naira in the madness.
9 .Some security personnels from the zone serving in the South East can no longer be trusted given the information reaching us. They are giving tactical support to the bandits. A kind of agbata ekee business.
10. As a critical stake holder in Igboland and Nigeria, given my experiences as a publicist, writer and influencer I fear that there is elites conspiracy in the worsening security lapses in the SE. When German war machines crumbled in 1945 German intellectuals and intelligentsia began to ask questions why nobody challenged the excesses of Adolf Hitler until he led Germany to complete annihilation and crushing defeat.
11. I have noticed that majority of Elders in the South East are yet to come to terms with the crushing and debilitating defeat their party PDP suffered in 2015 which has triggered hate, bigotry, and subversive activities in the zone.
12. In a video I watched the leader of IPOB and ESN, Nnamdi Kanu says he is a powerful man who decides who must die and who must live in the SE. Our Elders heard him and said nothing. I noticed also how these Elders were falling over themselves to take pictures with the new King in town,Nnamdi Kanu and before you know the guy grew wings and became the ‘Numero Uno’ in the South East.
13 Now, these Elders who helped to carry NK on top of MOUNT EVEREST must find a way bring NK down without further damage.
14. Elders cannot be at home and allow a she-goat to deliver while in tether. Children cannot teach the old tradition. The Holy Book says Woe betide a Nation whose king is a baby. When Elders are not at home Children may wear snakes as necklaces.
15. Three days ago 4 Policemen were killed by IPOB &ESN tin Nach- Oji River Corridor. The Policemen were all indigenes of Enugu State. 2 from Udi, 1 from Nsukka and 1 from Ezeagu.
16 When a writer is silent, he or she is lying.
Joe, you’ve said it all. But be prepared for the insults and abuses that will be hurled at you. A vast majority of our elders and youths have taken leave of the famed republican spirit that drove our can-do character and have become zombies. Who loses when commerce, industry & education of our young ones are destroyed through wrong-headed lockdowns; police stations burnt down & security personnel killed? The SW is also agitating for the goal as IPOB but why isn’t the zone similarly on fire? Blindfolded nzogbu-nzogbu politicking! But the fistful of us pleading for the voice of sanity and reason to prevail are an endangered species. Let what will be, become; because telling a stubborn child that a fire is dangerous won’t stop him from thrusting his hand into the fire and validating his own experience. But we’ve spoken for the records and history. Yagazie!
Joe Igbokwe i ask you how much did you receive why the only problem you see with Nigeria is Ipob/Esn. You chose to close your eyes on fulani herdsmen and misrule going on in nigeria’nepotism’tribalism,killings, Gov Ortom has been crying about the real problem but for you the problem is ipob. Time will tell continue
Everybody knows that you are not mentally and physically balanced,so go on with your gossip and blackmail. I will keep watching you and know where you will land. Nonsense!
Keep on disgracing yourself,the end justifies the means
When the indigenous people destroy there land unknown source will take over. I’m surprise always seeing youths biting drum of war. When the elders decides to tell you that calamity of the old you might prefer dying young. A word is enough for the wise.
With all due respect Mr igbokwe…
I write to u to still use this media to tell the world the atrocities u and ur so called APC administration has caused to the southeast,
U don’t talk about the bad road u witnessed the poor governance u observed, because u are holding a profitable position ur families are abroad, have u tried for one day check the pple u are governing and conduct a listening program… U all guys are busy collecting and masterminding public funds and u still have the Gus to come out here and talk shit…all those innocent youth that have been killed what if one of ur children is there will u come here to be talking trash? Put ur self on the shoes of innocent youth and know during u pple time wheader the intimidation we the recent youths are facing now wheader if u witnessed half of it maybe u could not have been in the position u operate today…#endbadgovernmentnow.
#endcorruptionnow.
#Revolutionnow.