Outrage has continued to trail the recent pronouncement of the five South East Governors over the activities of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the region.
The Governors, who met on Saturday in Enugu State had disowned the activities of the proscribed IPOB.
According to the Governors, the call for secession by IPOB is not a representation of the yearning by the entire people of the region, saying that the group has no right to speak on behalf of the South East.
Speaking at the end of their meeting, Governor of Ebonyi State and the Chairman, South East Governors Forum, David Umahi, stated that the governors also met in order to figure out lasting solutions to the security crisis in the region.
The secession agitations by the IPOB have become loud recently. The leader of the group, Nnamdi Kanu has been advocating and campaigning for the actualization of the Biafra nation.
The IPOB agitators have cited the marginalization of the Igbos and the lack of development in the South East region as the reasons for the call for secession.
Recall also that the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militia wing of IPOB, had been allegedly linked with the various destruction of public and private facilities in the South East.
However, Umahi who addressed a press conference, issued a stern warning to the IPOB group, saying the Governors and the entire region believe in one Nigeria.
In his words, “We condemn in totality, the activities of violent secessionist groups in the South East and elsewhere. We firmly proclaim that we do not support them, they do not speak for South East.
“The impression that South-East leaders are silent over some of our youths’ agitations for secession is not correct.
“South-East Governors, Ohanaeze President, National Assembly members, notable leaders had come out publicly many times in the past to speak against such agitations.
“In order not to mismanage the unfortunate situation, South-East leaders have set up a committee to engage such youths to stop and allow elders speak to address such fears,” he said.
Similarly, Senator Rochas Okorocha, who represents Imo West Senatorial district has also cautioned the IPOB agitators against secession, saying the Igbos would suffer if they break up from Nigeria.
The former governor of Imo State Governor stated this while addressing some women groups yesterday.
According to him, the Igbos would be on the losing end should they secede and establish their Biafra nation because many Igbos are already established in different parts of the country.
In his words, “It is only an Igbo man that goes to a place and remains put in that place, buys a land and builds a house for his family without feeling insecure. The Igbo’s will lose more if Nigeria divides.
“Most Nigerian leaders who were successful had one thing or the other to do with the Igbos. It is either they married Igbo women or had some links with them. I can call names like, former President, Obasanjo; former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Buba Marwa, just to name a few”.
Meanwhile, the declaration by the Southeast Governors have continued to generate barrage of reactions, with many saying the Governors cannot speak for the people of the region.
Here are some of the reactions harvested from social media platforms:”Eastern govs and d so called political leaders have shoot themselves on d leg by rejecting IPOB and they have 4gotten that Ndigbo is IPOB and IPOB is Ndigbo, IPOB will also reject them at d appropriate time, ONLY MADNESS WILL MAKE FIVE PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN SPEAK FOR IGBOS,”(@Oye Dot).
“If IPOB can give order of stay at home and have 99℅ compliance therefore it imperatively clear that neither the wicked elders and politicians are speaking for Igbos. Let Igbos or Yorubas speaks for themselves through referendum,” (@Jasper Aniet Loius).
“The Five Persons with mental disabilities are not representing anyone but their pockets and their immediate families,”(@ Tony).
“5 people are 5 votes.
Can’t speak for over 35 million people,”(@Eziokwu Bu Ndu)
“They can never speak for us because we don’t regard them as our leader’s,they are selfish and self centered,there is only one Igbo leader we no,his excellency MNK,”(@deblessed)
“Okezie Ikpeazu, Willie Obiano, David Umahi, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Hope Uzodinma have acted most irresponsibly and without wisdom/circumspection all through this #SE crisis. Publicly disowning IPOB is the straw that broke the camel’s back. They have written their names in cowshit,”(@sonofomenuko)
