South/east govs, leaders condemn Biafra protests

The South-east governors have disassociated themselves from protests by Members of the Movement for the Actualization of Biafra (MASSOB).

Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Rochas Okorocha, said the reported violent protests in some states capitals including those of Rivers, Anambra and Delta, in the name of Biafra, do not in any way have the support or blessing of governors and leaders of the South-east geopolitical zone either directly or indirectly.

The reported protests which turned violent were carried out over Radio Biafra and the arrest of its director by security agents.

Governor Okorocha, in a statement issued in Owerri yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, regretted the development, “especially when such violent protests in the name of Biafra wouldn’t add any value to the development of the Southeast and progress of the people”.

He said:”When a section of people in the South-east or even the whole people in the geo-political zone protest over the bad shape of federal roads in the area or protest total negligence of the geopolitical zone, every governor and leader in the area will support that, but not to protest an issue that is neither here nor there”.

He said the South-east governors and leaders believe in the unity of the country and would always work towards sustaining the unity.

He said:”As far as the governors and leaders of the South-East are concerned, those behind the campaign for Biafra have an ulterior motive, which has nothing to do with the corporate interest of Ndi-Igbo in Nigeria”.

Okorocha maintained that the quest for Biafra is diversionary and called on those behind the protests to give peace a chance.