Leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) headed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu yesterday rejected the plea of the governors of the Southeast zone of Nigeria during a meeting between the pro-Biafra group and the politicians, DailyTrust reported.
It was gathered that after long hours of the closed door meeting at the Enugu Government House, the governors were unable to convince Kanu to drop his agitation for Biafra.
The report further revealed that the meeting failed to stop his threat against the November 18 governorship election in Anambra state. At the meeting, they also discussed issues concerning the alleged violation of his bail conditions for which the Federal Government had asked an Abuja High court to issue an order to re-arrest him.
Issue of concern to the governors also was the Biafra Secret Service (BSS), which Kanu reportedly inaugurated at Umuahia, Abia state, an act the police described as unlawful.
During the meeting which was attended by constitutional lawyer, Prof Ben Nwabueze and Deputy Secretary General, Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT), Evangelist Elliot Uko, Kanu was said to have remained adamant on restoration of Biafra.
“They begged him to drop Biafra agitation but he shook his head. That’s why they decided to have further discussions with him and his group,” the insider said.
But Ebonyi State Governor and Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, Dave Umahi had assured that the governors would continue to have further dialogue with the leadership of IPOB.
At the meeting were Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Deputy Governor of Anambra state, Dr Nkem Okeke. Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) were said to be out of the country.
How ironic that the governors of the 2 most backwards eastern states could not attend the meeting.
Cash Ezimako