South-East governors proscribe IPOB as Igbo community in Kano disowns Kanu

Nnamdi Kanu’s attempt to create a Republic for himself in Nigeria, using his Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) organisation as the launch pad, collapsed on Friday.
After an enlarged South-East Governors’ Forum meeting in Enugu, the five governors from the zone proscribed the organisation.
At the meeting were the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi; Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu; Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Chief Eze Madumere, who represented Governor Rochas Okorocha.
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; the President of Ohanaeze, Chief Nnia Nwodo; the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigeria Army Enugu, Major General A.B. Abubakar, also attended.
A communique after the meeting reads: “In view of the prevailing security situation in the South East and its attendant consequences, the South East Governors Forum hereby resolves as follows:
“All activities of IPOB are hereby proscribed. IPOB and all other aggrieved groups are advised to articulate their position on all national issues and submit to the Committee of Governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and National Assembly members from the South-East Zone, through their chairman, South-East Governors Forum.
“All Governors of South-East Zone are to ensure compliance in their respective states”.
Meanwhile, the Igbo Community Association in Kano State has dissociated itself from the activities of Kanu.
The President-General of the association, Chief Ebenezer Chima, made the position of the association known at a joint news conference in Kano on Friday.
“We want to state categorically here that we, the Igbos residing and doing business in Kano State, unequivocally state that we dissociate ourselves from the activities of IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
“We are strongly advocating for peace and unity in the land,” Chima said.
While condemning “in its entirety’’ the unfortunate and avoidable crisis in Abia, he called on all Igbos resident in the state to remain calm as nothing would happen to them.
According to him, the state government under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and security agents have given the assurance of adequate security of our lives and property.
“However, we join the South-East governors, the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo and other notable Igbo leaders, to ask the Federal Government to address the issues of equality and even distribution of our common wealth.
“This, we believe will bring an end to these agitations in the country.’’
On his part, President of Ethnic Community Leaders Association (ECLAK) in the state, Dr Jimpat Ayelangbe, assured all non-indigenes of adequate security of their lives and property.
He said that the assurance stemmed from the meetings they had with various leaders and security agencies in the state.
“ECLAK got the mandate to speak to the media by allaying fears of our people over the concern of their lives and property.
“ECLAK is interested in a united Nigeria because we believe that those not living in their states of origin should not contribute to disorganise the country.’’
Ayelangbe commended the Northern states governors and their South-East counterparts and leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had constituted committees on restructuring.
He called on his members and other Nigerians to avoid hate speeches in order to foster national unity.