Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has described the defunct Biafra Republic which the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) seeks to restore as madness.

The former Eastern Region, which comprises of present-day South-East and South-South geo-political zones, under the leadership of its then military governor, Odumegwu Ojukwu, had in 1967 announced the breakaway from Nigeria.

The breakaway announcement, rejected by the then led military junta of General Yakubu Gowon, led to the civil war which ended 30 months after – January 1970.

After the war, the seceding region was merged back to the nation until IPOB renewed the agitations for self-determination which heightened during the first term of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

Mr Buhari, unlike his predecessor, former president Goodluck Jonathan who ignored Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the separatist group, arrested the secessionist leader at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos State and arraigned him on treasonable charges.

Mr Kanu was granted bail and was released in April 2017 but fled on September of same year after military personnel raided his Afaraukwu home killing dozens in the process.

The IPOB leader later resurfaced in Israel years after and return to London from where he continued his propaganda until in June when he was intercepted and brought back from Kenya to continue his trial.

In December 2020, Kanu launched a paramilitary arm of his group codenamed Eastern Security Network (ESN) which he said was to drive away violent Fulani herdsmen rampaging farmlands in Igbo predominant areas.

ALSO READ: Group charges s'east Governors to show leadership, secure their people

Since the security outfit was launched, violent attacks has increased in the South-East region with security agencies hastily accusing IPOB which has continued to distanced itself from the endless killings that has forced the federal government to threaten to declare state of emergency in Anambra State where the state guber election is scheduled for next month.

Speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, Mr Umahi said elites from the geo-political zone have rejected the plan to secede from Nigeria.

He said should the country be dissolved, the Igbo people, like what was obtained during the civil war, stand to lose more unlike other secessionist agitators in the South-West region.

“Every elite in the South-East is not desirous of Biafra,” the governor claimed. “We don’t want Biafra. We want to be treated equally like other regions in Nigeria. So this idea of Biafra is madness – we have said we don’t want Biafra.

“We have invested a lot and we can’t leave our investments and walk away. Those people (agitating in other regions) are at an advantage because we have invested heavily in their areas and the tendency is that if this happens, we are going to leave our investments and walk away. We did that during the civil war and we do not intend to do that again,” he added.

The chairman of the South-East Governors Forum also said intelligence report at their disposal suggests that the heightened killings in Anambra are politically motivated while regretting the absence of the state governor, Willie Obiano, who would have verified the report at the forum’s emergency meeting on Tuesday.

ALSO READ: FG threatens to declare state of emergency in Anambra

He also said IPOB positioned itself to be blamed for the increasing killings by saying the guber elections should not hold, despite the group denying ever issuing such directive.

“We (South-East governors) spoke about the election in Anambra State yesterday but, unfortunately, our brother, the governor of Anambra State, was not able to attend. We would have been able to evaluate the stories we are hearing that the killings in Anambra State are politically motivated,” Umahi said.

“But on the other hand, you look at what IPOB is saying that there should not be election in Anambra State. If we don’t have elections and there is constitutional crisis, the National Assembly and Mr. President are going to sort out that one.

“There are unconfirmed reports that some political parties that have seen they are not going to win are importing people to do the killings. These were some of the reports we got yesterday (October 5). Unconfirmed reports.

“But IPOB is positioning themselves as the killing agents because they are the ones saying there will be no elections; they are the ones saying if you come out we kill you. So even if they are not the ones killing, they have taken responsibility for the killings,” the governor added.

BigSarah:
IPOB means of Trying to get Biafra is truly madness no sane person would support that approach

loveth360:
One Nigeria means of trying to keep nigeria is madest and no reasonable
person will support that.

colorsofrainbow:
Channels TV was interviewing a Fulani man.
That's all I can say

paramakina202:
Nnamdi Kanu killing thousands of Igbo men and women just because of money.

BigSarah:


True, but if everyone goes mad at the same time ..
THEN who really benefits...

Every elite in the South-East is not desirous of Biafra,” the governor claimed. “We don’t want Biafra. We want to be treated equally like other regions in Nigeria. So this idea of Biafra is madness – we have said we don’t want Biafra.

loveth360:
The only language your Nigeria government understand is language of threat and violent.


Very bad.




Remember how ipob started,So always remember to start your judgement from beginning.

BigSarah:


I know how IPOB started, but you don't expect FG to play fair.
IPOB is not even prepared for violence, they can't guarantee protection for anyone.
IPOB should not resort to what they can't end successfully, they've no weapons
They've no friends in Nigeria military structure.
Choosing violence and threats is the wrong move.
And the only excuse is price for freedom, you don't waste lives and property just like that.

FakeUnity:
Umahi after all this your asslicking make sure you bring the presidency to East in 2023 to debunk the 'marginalization' narrative that fuels the agitation in the interest of equity because if you don't..... Hehehehe. A ga enye unu oso na'ala Igbo.

loveth360:
So what's you advice/suggestion to ipob?

Allow themselves to be continue
killed by your Nigeria government?

Accept one Nigeria the way it is?

loveth360:
So what's you advice/suggestion to ipob?

Allow themselves to be continue
killed by your Nigeria government?

Accept one Nigeria the way it is?

BigSarah:


End the Biafra Agitation, till when they're 110%. (Diplomatically, militarily,intellectually, financially) Capable of achieving Biafra...

So for the main time accept Nigeria as it is and try to the get the best and most of what they can from the One Nigeria Business.

paramakina202:
Nnamdi Kanu killing thousands of Igbo men and women just because of money.

deantimes:


Source: https://todaypoliticsng.com/biafra-is-madness-south-east-elite-dont-want-it-gov-umahi/

Emergingnation:
Says chronic unity beggar that can't imagine himself with out Igbo ....

Nigeria must Break , all unity Beggars should rots in hell...