Ebonyi state government has begun the implementation of the ban on the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) as part of the resolutions reached at the Friday’s South East Governors and leaders meeting in Enugu.
At a press conference at the Governor’s office in Abakaliki on Saturday, Governor David Umahi who is also the Chairman of the South East Governors forum, said that the proscription of the Pro-Biafra group was aimed at restoring calm in all the nooks and crannies of the zone.
Umahi urged the security agencies in the state to ensure the protection of lives and property of both the indigenes and non-indigenes of Ebonyi state.
He said that any group that propagate sectional and tribal hatred should be arrested and prosecuted.
He debunked the insinuations that the military operation tagged Python Dance 2 (Egwu Eke 11) in the zone was aimed at extermination of the zone as being rumoured in some quarters, adding that the operation was meant to fight kidnapping in the zone.
He said that the Governors proscribed IPOB activities in the five South Eastern states because the activities of the group if not checked were capable of plunging the country into avoidable war with catastrophic consequences.
Governor Umahi who acknowledged that there are issues that needed to be discussed in the polity, insisted that neither insulting the President of the country nor any other tribe or ethnic group as being done by the IPOB would address the issues.
He noted that with the help of unscrupulous elements on the social media and other unregulated platforms ,the activities of the group were gradually moving beyond the initial plans of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and war was gradually staring at us.
He said that South East Governors and leaders had to take the decision on IPOB and other vital national issues to avert war and save the lives of Nigerians.
He disclosed that the Governors of the zone have set up a high powered committee to investigate the allegations of extra judicial killings against the military.
Umahi commended the Governors of the 19 northern states for their comportment and and understanding and for showing uncommon leadership by prevailing on their people not to descend on Igbos in the zone.
He said that himself and other governors of the zone as well as all the National Assembly members and indeed all the leaders of the zone are committed to the unity and oneness of Nigeria and called on Nigerians to respect the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria.
No comments:
Post a Comment