APC Chieftain Joe Igbokwe Raises the Alarm Over Rising Ethnic Bigotry, Warns of Looming National Crisis

A prominent Lagos-based chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has issued a stark warning about the escalating threat of ethnic bigotry in Nigeria, calling it a dangerous trend that could spiral into national unrest if left unaddressed.

In a post shared on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, Igbokwe described the situation as deteriorating at an alarming rate. “Ethnic bigotry is growing hopelessly like wildfire in Nigeria and our eyes are not open to see the danger,” he wrote. “I pray the veil covering our eyes will be removed so that we can see clearly. Make we de play ooo.”

Igbokwe’s comments sparked widespread reactions, including from Segun Showunmi, a political strategist and former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar during the 2019 presidential campaign. Showunmi echoed the warning, describing ethnic divisions as a “ticking time bomb.”

“I have been screaming against this,” Showunmi said. “It’s one of the major dangers we ignore. Those in charge are doing nothing to say, ‘enough is enough.’ We better hope there’s a containment strategy in place if things explode in our faces. The way we pretend not to see the danger is baffling.”

Both political figures emphasized the urgent need for national leadership to acknowledge and curb rising ethnic sentiments that threaten national unity. They cautioned that continuing to ignore such divisions could have explosive consequences for Nigeria’s fragile peace and democracy.

The warnings come amid growing concerns over identity politics, hate speech, and social media-fueled ethnic rivalries that have increasingly characterized political and public discourse in recent years.

As the nation moves closer to another election cycle, many observers fear that fanning the flames of ethnic identity could deepen divisions, undermine stability, and reverse years of fragile nation-building.