All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Joe Igbokwe, this evening rubbished reports that he had recanted his statement justifying the July 24 deportation of 72 non-indigenes to Onitsha, Anambra State, by agents of the Lagos State Government.

“What is this news that Joe Igbokwe has recanted his statement?” he asked in a short message posted on some online forums. “When did that happen? Some people must put on their thinking caps.”

He later posted on Facebook: “Who told anybody that joe igokwe has recanted his statements on the so called Onitsha Deportation? Are some people looking for escape route because their useless arguements have been rendered nugatory on this over bloated issue? My fear from the the onset is that this may degerate into tribal warfare has come to reality. I suggest that my people must learn diplomacy and tact in matters of this nature. Case rested.”

Chief Igbokwe, the General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance & Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), was reacting to a story by the London-based elombah.com claiming that he recanted this morning during a Channels Television breakfast programme.

Igbokwe, according to the portal, “also blamed the agency that carried out the exercise adding that Governor Babatunde Fashola should have done a follow up on the exercise.”

The former Lagos Publicity Secretary of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), who hails from Nnewi in Anambra State, was quoted as saying: “This deported people are abused, mentally abused people and are incoherent in speech and communication, they have been rehabilitated, and they were sent to be reunited with their families.”

The National Vision publisher has been under fire from various Igbo groups and individuals for supporting what is generally seen as injustice to his people.

•Photo shows Joe Igbokwe.