The Imo State Government has reacted to what it perceived as an embarrassment by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in their attempts to disrupt Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s Chatham House Lecture in London.
In a release made available to newsmen, signed by the chief press secretary to the governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, it said the attempt was not sensible.
“Imo State Government, and the people of the state in general have noted with disdain the unfortunate and embarrassing action of the members of IPOB, on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, when they had undertaken to disrupt Governor Rochas Okorocha’s speech at the world-famous Chatham House London which he was invited to deliver.
‘‘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 said it was 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.’
According to the government, IPOB members reportedly said they acted that way because Governor Okorocha has not supported their agitation.
“Was that was their only reason for throwing caution to the wind and invading the Chatham House to disrupt a wonderful outing by a bonafide leader and son of Igbo land?”
