South East governors and other leaders of the zone have dissociated themselves from the protests embarked upon by loyalists of the rival group of Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in some states in the zone on Tuesday.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who made the declaration on behalf of the leaders yesterday in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said they were not in support of such act principally because of the arrest of the Biafran Radio director, adding that such is not and cannot be in the best interest of the zone.
The statement, titled “Governors and leaders of South-East not in support of any protest in the name of Biafra”, reads in part: “Imo State Governor and Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum, Rochas Okorocha, has said that 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 the governors and leaders of the South-East geo-political zone either directly or indirectly.
“The reported protests in the mentioned states’ capitals which turned violent were said to have been carried out over Radio Biafra and the arrest of its Director by security agents.
“ Okorocha said the ugly development was highly regrettable, especially when it was clear that such violent protests in the name of Biafra wouldn’t add any value to the development of the South-East and the progress of the people of the area.
“ The governors and leaders of the South-East condemn the protests, especially when they were carried out in the name of Biafra. If a section of the people in the South-East or even the whole people in the geo-political zone protest over the bad shape of the federal roads in the area or protest over the total negligence of the geo-political 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 South-East is an integral part of Nigeria and the governors and leaders from the area so much believe in the unity of the country and would always work towards sustaining the unity. And as far as the governors and leaders of the South-East are concerned, those behind the campaign for Biafra have their ulterior motive, which has nothing to do with corporate interest of Ndi-Igbo in Nigeria of our collective dream.
“The concern of the governors and other South-East leaders is to get what is due for us in our country, and any other quest especially for Biafra is diversionary.
“Governor Okorocha called on those behind all these protests on the basis of Biafra to give peace a chance and expressed regret that some Igbo people could get involved in a protest the end – result of which won’t benefit Ndi-Igbo in any way, but could lead to the shooting of some of them.
“The Imo governor said that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable, and the South-East people strongly believe in that unity and would work assiduously to ensure its sustenance.”
