Date Published: 03/11/10

Re - Action Congress and Joe Igbokwe By Joe Igbokwe

  I have just read the article titled: Action Congress and Joe Igbokwe published in the Freekick on page 18 of Daily Sun of Tuesday March 9 2010 written by a good friend and human rights activist Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi.  For the benefit of readers, the article was as a consequence of a Press Release by the National Publicity Secretary, AC which countered an earlier release by my humble self as the Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Action Congress, on Army loyalty to the Presidency and deployment of troops at Abuja Airport on 24th February, 2010.

Immediately Lai Mohammed’s counter release hit the newsstand, a lot of people called me to know what is happening and I told them that there is no cause for alarm. Emeka was one of my committed friends who called. Coupled with the Press Statement released to the public from the Army headquarters where my name was mentioned repeatedly, a lot of friends and associates felt concerned. I remember Emeka Umeagbalasi called to ask whether my life was in danger so as to find a way to assist. I told him not to worry that I do not think the matter will degenerate to that level. He told me he had written something earlier on the matter and has just sent it out. I asked him not to publish it as it may cause further problems but he assured me that it has nothing to do with me and that I should not worry. I left it there until I saw the write-up in the Naijapolitics chat group on the internet. Immediately, I drew his attention to it and told him that the article was totally uncalled for and unnecessary, that if I had seen it before going to the press, I would have asked him to jettison the idea.

  Emeka Umeagbalasi, as a true friend thought he was helping me to fight what he supposed were my wars but went on to cast aspersions on my leaders in the National and Lagos AC. Now let it be known and it is hereby made known that I am at peace with my leaders in the Party both at the National and Lagos State levels. To an outsider, it sounded as if I recruited him to fight for me. I fight my battles head-on when the need arises. Now, If I grief that my friend described AC politics in Edo State as politics of axe and matchet to swallow the opposition, to make some uncomplimentary remarks against our own well respected leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to put me in more trouble. Governor Oshiomhole is fighting a battle of his life in Edo State to rid the state of notorious godfathers that have sucked the State dry as their private estate. His Excellency, Governor Adams Oshiomhole deserves our commendation and not condemnation for this great feat and I think Nigeria and Edo State will be better for it.

In Lagos, Nigeria and beyond, our dearest Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the last man standing in the lofty peak towering above a thousand mountains and hills. I am a student of Asiwaju’s political school and only a fool will sit by the side when his revered teacher is being abused. We, his associates do not joke with him. We see Asiwaju as an eagle which symbolizes strength, focus, elegance, clear vision and dynamism.

Joe Igbokwe

Lagos