Governor Umahi defends decision to ban group

chika ebuzor

September 26, 2017 8:42 PM

Umahi said the Governors had to take the decision to save the lives of over 12 million Igbos living in the North.

The chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Governor David Umahi has defended the decision made by the region’s Governors to proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The Ebonyi state Governor also said that the South-East Governors have no apologies for proscribing IPOB.

Umahi said he understands the agitations of the Igbos, adding that things can be resolved through dialogue and prayers.

He also said “The issue of proscribing Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, a lot of people were sending test messages to me. Some were commending us whereas others were condemning and abusing us and that is leadership for you.

“Our people must know that the issue of insulting the leaders of the Igbos, it is not issue of the sitting President, is not about abusing other tribes.

“The issue of agitation and marginalization should not degenerate into self help and as governors of the south east, We make all efforts to bring peace. We meet as the 5 governors of the south east and proscribed IPOB.

“We did that to save the lives of 12 millions of igbos that are living in the northern Nigeria and other parts of this country. We did that and we have no apologies for saving the lives of not only the , but the lives of other ethnic groups within the south east zone.

“We need another state and local government to be like others in the other geopolitical zones. We must use dialogue approach and prayers to get what we need. We cannot allow our place to be a place for kidnappers and armed robbers.

“Our governors are committed to our youths, we have all agreed that our youths who have been misled by IPOB ideology to be re-absorbed and reintegrated and keep them busy doing something with their hands.

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“And to this effect, I ask the ministry of youths empowerment to open up a register for some of our youths who are mislead into this agitation and by my words, we are going to rehabilitate them and reintegrate them into meaningful venture in Ebonyi state.”

Recently, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted Federal Government an interim injunction proscribing activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati, granted the injunction in chambers.

chika ebuzor