Lagos-based politician and prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Joe Igbokwe has responded after facing a surge of criticism from supporters of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), following his recent remarks on Kanu’s life-imprisonment sentence. The online backlash prompted Igbokwe to clarify his position and recount the painful experiences of communities in the Southeast during periods of separatist agitation.
In a post shared on his Facebook page, Igbokwe emphasized the human cost of the unrest, highlighting the suffering of ordinary residents caught in the violence. “They burnt the Igwe’s palace. They killed families in numbers. They sent aged people away from the village that many ask if they will ever set eyes on their homes anymore before dying,” he wrote, painting a vivid picture of the destruction that affected entire communities.
Igbokwe argued that the scale of fear and disruption cannot be dismissed as political rhetoric or online outrage. He insisted that his comments stem from personal experience and accounts shared by victims, rather than partisan sentiment. According to him, recognizing the pain endured by these communities is essential for understanding the broader consequences of violent campaigns and the long-term trauma inflicted on residents.
The APC stalwart has consistently alleged that violent actors operating under the IPOB banner destabilized villages, targeted local leaders, and drove residents into displacement. These claims have often generated controversy and drawn strong pushback from IPOB supporters, who contest the portrayal of their movement as inherently violent. Despite this, Igbokwe remained firm in his position, stressing that the events he describes were real and had lasting impacts on families and local leaders in affected areas.
Addressing the criticisms directly, Igbokwe asserted that he would not be intimidated by social media attacks. “Denying or downplaying the suffering of affected communities only deepens the wounds,” he said, noting that many elderly villagers, who were forced to flee during periods of insecurity, still fear they may never return to their homes.
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