LAGOS: A chieftain of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has strongly criticized claims by some Igbo individuals that Lagos State became empty and dry because Ndigbo travelled to the South-East to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Igbokwe, an activist and outspoken public commentator, made his position known in an open letter addressed to Igbo residents living in Lagos.
He described the narrative circulating on social media as misleading, petty and an exaggeration that does not reflect the reality of Lagos as Nigeria’s commercial nerve Centre.
According to him, Lagos remains a vibrant, 24-hour city driven by diverse ethnic groups, not by one tribe alone.
He argued that while millions of Igbos live and do business in Lagos, they are not the only group that travels during festive seasons.
He noted that South-Westerners, South-South residents and people from the North also travel to their states during holidays and religious festivities without making similar claims.
Igbokwe dismissed social media posts showing deserted streets and markets as a false representation of Lagos, insisting that the city’s economy does not grind to a halt because one group travels home.
He described Lagos as the economic hub of Nigeria and Africa, a land of opportunities sustained by people from all parts of the country.
The APC chieftain further accused some Igbos of being overly loud and provocative in national discourse, urging them to adopt a more humble and reflective approach.
He compared the conduct of wealthy individuals from other regions, including Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, whom he said do not engage in excessive self-praise or ethnic grandstanding.
Calling for introspection, Igbokwe urged Igbo leaders and elders to caution younger generations against what he described as a false sense of superiority and needless ethnic provocation.
He stressed that every ethnic group in Nigeria contributes meaningfully to national development and deserves mutual respect.
He concluded by encouraging Ndigbo to focus on rebuilding and developing the South-East, rather than engaging in social media narratives that could deepen ethnic tensions.
The comments have since sparked widespread reactions online, with opinions sharply divided over his remarks and tone.
