South East governors proscribe IPOB activities

The activities on Nnamdi Kanu and his Indigenous People of Biafra group have been proscribed by the governors of the South East part of the country.

The decision was reached at the Friday meeting of the South-East Governors Forum in Enugu attended by governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu; Dave Umahi, Ebonyi; Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia; and Willie Obiano, Anambra.

The governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha was represented at the meeting by his deputy, Eze Madumere.

Also in attendance at the meeting which lasted for hours were President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Enugu, Gen. Adamu Abubakar.

Read also: Crackdown may begin as Defence Hq classifies IPOB as terrorist group

The chairman of the forum, Umahi, after disclosing that the leadership of IPOB sent their apologies for not attending the meeting proceeded to read the communiqué that emanated from the meeting.

He said, “All activities of IPOB are hereby proscribed. IPOB and all other aggrieved groups are advised to articulate their position on all national issues and submit to the Committee of Governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and National Assembly members from South-East Zone, through the chairman, South-East Governors Forum.”
But in a related development, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Friday frowned at the Nigerian Army classification of IPOB members as terrorists.

He described the development as a pity.

Fani-Kayode, who stated this in a statement he made available to newsmen wondered how anyone could tag an unarmed group as terrorists.

The military had in an earlier statement of Friday branded the agitators of Biafra as a terrorist group.

But in Reaction Fani-Kayode said, “As far as I am aware, Nnamdi Kanu and members of his IPOB have never killed anyone and neither have they been carrying arms, theirs is a peaceful non-violent struggle in pursuit of a legitimate aspiration and objective.

“Violence and arms have no place in that struggle and in my view the military is simply trying to create an atmosphere of terror, fear and intimidation in order to justify their actions in the east and a general clampdown on those they perceive as enemies of the state.

“It really is a pity that it has come to this and once again, I call for restraint on all sides. This is a democracy and not a military dictatorship.”

 

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