Imo govt slams pro-Biafra group’s attack on Okorocha at Chatham House
The Imo State government has described as unfortunate and embarrassing the action of the pro-Biafra agitators believed to be members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) for disruption of a lecture delivered by the State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, on Wednesday, at Chatham House, London.
In a statement on Thursday in Owerri, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okorocha, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo said that, the group (Biafra agitators) alleged that the governor had not supported their actions or any other pro- Biafra groups for the actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra.
“As a government, we do not hesitate to commend the high level of maturity which the governor and few of the senior government functionaries who made the trip with him had exhibited in the face of such unprovoked and ill-advised action of the IPOB members at Chatham House.
It is even worrisome that members of a group like IPOB that have always given the impression that they are fighting for the course of Igbos would decide to storm the Chatham House to cause trouble at an event one of the best in Igboland was invited to deliver a speech on the way forward for our society” Onwuemeodo stated.
According to him, if IPOB apostles would undertake to embarrass an Igbo leader of Governor Okorocha’s status in London, then, their claim that they are fighting or agitating in the interest of Ndi Igbo should be taken with a pinch of salt by those who had hitherto believed them.
He said, “It was very unreasonable on the part of the IPOB members to think that a man like Governor Okorocha, who has built schools across the nation as his own contribution to the unity of Nigeria and had in the past also sought to be the president of the country would come out to support IPOB or any other pro-Biafra group campaigning for sovereignty.
“All over the world, groups fighting for one reason or the other presumably for their people, do not lose sight of what certain leaders in the areas represent and accord them the needed respect no matter what they hold against such leaders.
“At this juncture, we appropriate the liberty to take exception to the action of the IPOB members on Wednesday at CHATHAM HOUSE. Igbos are wise people who do not act anyhow in situations or circumstances. The IPOB action at Chatham House was not only embarrassing to Governor Okorocha as an Igbo leader, but also to Ndi-Igbo in general, both at home and in diaspora, and indeed to all men and women of goodwill”.
