Between Joe Igbokwe And Ben Akubueze, By Onyebuchi Ememanka

I remember doing a post some two years ago on the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos and as a place where you can attain your highest level in life, irrespective of where you come from. I am a living witness to that fact that you can blossom in Lagos no matter where you come from.

I still stand by that assertion. Lagos is the center of excellence. This is beyond any arguments.

Joe Igbokwe is not the only Igboman to have served the government and people of Lagos.

Others have served even in higher positions.
Ben Akabueze is a good example.
A former CEO of the defunct NAL Merchant Bank, Akabueze was headhunted by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who appointed him Commissioner for Economic Development.

That appointment is one of the reasons why I will forever respect Tinubu. To give such a key position to a non Yoruba person speaks a lot about his person. I don't care what anyone says but Tinubu will always enjoy my respects.

Ben Akabueze was in charge of managing the humongous Lagos economy for 12 uninterrupted years. 4 years under Tinubu and 8 years under Fashola.
Today, he has moved from Lagos to Abuja where he is currently the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation.

How many times have you heard Ben Akabueze grant any interview apart from issues affecting his job directly?

How many times has Ben Akabueze, who is also from Anambra State, made Igbos the subject matter of his long essays?

Has that stopped him from growing in Lagos or has that diminished his stature in the eyes of his employers and the stakeholders of Lagos politics?

The man simply faces his job and has no time for needless tantrums.

Joe Igbokwe has a very important job in Lagos. He should face his work and stop this needless stoking of controversy. As APC Publicity Secretary in Lagos, he has more than enough things to keep him busy. He should do his job and leave his kinsmen alone.