Last week, Nnamdi Kanu, the director of Radio Biafra was arrested by security men after arriving in Lagos from the UK from where he runs his pirate radio station, which calls for the break-up of Nigeria. His arrested sparked a series of protests by Igbo-speaking supporters of Biafra who held solidarity rallies in Rivers, Delta and Anambra States demanding Mr Kanu's unconditional release.
Already, the Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, has warned that his administration will not tolerate a repeat of the protest embarked upon by the members of any self-determination group within the state. Condemning the protests, the governor stressed the indivisibility of Nigeria and added that the actions of the protesters were capable of stimulating chaos in the state.
Now, Governor Okorocha has joined in the condemnation, dissociating his government from the protests by separatist groups the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (Massob) and the Independent People of Biafra (Ipob). He regretted the ugly development, saying that such violent protests in the name of Biafra would not add any value to the development of southeast Nigeria.
Governor Okorocha said,:“The governors and leaders of the southeast condemn the protests, especially when they were carried out in the name of Biafra. If a section of the people in the southeast or even the whole people in the geopolitical zone protest over the bad shape of the federal roads in the area or protest over the total negligence of the geopolitical zone, every governor and leader in the area would support that but not to protest over an issue that is neither here nor there.”
“The southeast is an integral part of Nigeria and the governors and leaders from the area believe in the unity of the country and would always work towards sustaining the unity. As far as the governors and the leaders of the southeast are concerned, those behind the campaign for Biafra have their ulterior motive, which has nothing to do with corporate interest of the Ndigbo in Nigeria.”
He called on those behind the protests to give peace a chance. Meanwhile, a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt has remanded 20 suspected supporters of the Massob and Ipob who were arrested during the protests in custody
They have been charged with chanting hate songs, treason and the destruction of Nigerian flags that were hoisted in front of a new generation bank. Chief magistrate S D Andrew-Jaja, directed their counsel to prepare to address the court on the suspects’ bail application during the court’s next sitting which will take place on October 27.
Those charged have been identified as Benson Sunday, Emmanuel Ali, Ukeme Monday, Chibuzor Eechina, Charles Eze, Egbo Okechukwu, Chibona Ifion, John Douglas, Ezenwa Alphonus, Wori Endurance, Chinomere Nwolu, Henry Eze, Friday Uzunwa, Igbodo Abio, Akaniyene Uwem, Eni Iboro, Obinna Stephen, Monday Ocha, Obinna Ibekwe and Kingsley Ezengorie.
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