A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has criticised Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lawyer representing the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), over a social media post that appeared to suggest Nigeria could learn from Nepal’s recent uprising.
Ejiofor had, in a Facebook post on Saturday, compared the political situation in Nigeria to that of Nepal, where widespread youth-led protests over corruption and bad governance recently led to a deadly revolution and major political changes.
In his post, Ejiofor lamented that while young people in Nepal rose up to challenge corruption and poor leadership, their Nigerian counterparts seem to be subdued and unwilling to demand change.
Though Ejiofor didn’t openly call for violence, his remarks have been viewed by some as a subtle endorsement of mass uprising or civil unrest. This interpretation did not sit well with Joe Igbokwe, who quickly fired back.
Taking to his Facebook page, Igbokwe accused Ejiofor of promoting instability in Nigeria through his comments. He described the lawyer’s statement as “dangerous” and “irresponsible,” especially given the tense situation in parts of the South East.
“The IPOB, UGM (Unknown Gunmen), ESN (Eastern Security Network), etc. lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, is not done yet,” Igbokwe wrote.
“Their bloody groups have left unimaginable wreckage, massive destruction, and thousands of deaths in the South East. Now this ‘yeye’ lawyer is stylishly and dangerously preaching Nepal experience in Nigeria.”
Igbokwe, who hails from the South East and is a known critic of IPOB and its activities, accused Ejiofor of trying to reignite violence in the region after a decade of bloodshed and destruction allegedly caused by separatist activities.
“Having failed woefully in 10 years of bloodshed and destruction of homes — including mine — he now wants to push Nigerian youths into chaos,” Igbokwe added.
He urged Nigerians to be cautious and not fall for what he described as veiled calls for anarchy. He also warned that comments like Ejiofor’s could further destabilise an already fragile nation.
“Let us be guided. Let us tread carefully. Let us have common sense — even though common sense is not common,” he said.
Ejiofor is the long-time legal counsel to IPOB and its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu. He has consistently maintained that his role is purely legal and that he does not support violence.
However, critics like Igbokwe believe figures like Ejiofor play a role in encouraging unrest, either directly or indirectly, through their public statements and online posts.
The South East region has, in recent years, witnessed rising insecurity blamed on unknown gunmen and armed groups said to be linked to IPOB. While the group has repeatedly denied involvement, the government continues to associate it with the growing violence.
