Commercial activities were on Friday disrupted in Owerri, the Imo State capital, as thousands of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra converged on the city, calling for secession from Nigeria.
This is even as a coalition of youths in the South-East warned the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, from holding any rally in the state.
At a press briefing in the state capital, the coordinators of the various youth bodies said they would resist any activity or programme which seeks to threaten the country’s sovereignty.
The Coordinator of the One Nigeria Group, Mr. Azunnaya Andrew, said, “One Nigeria Group stands for Nigeria’s oneness. We totally condemn the pro-Biafra rally in Owerri, conducted by one Nnamdi Kanu.”
Similarly, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Imo Council of Youths, Jeff Nwoha; the Coordinator of the Nigeria Youths Unity Group, Emeka Igwe; and the national spokesperson for the Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Samuel Godstime, said rather than go for Biafra, youths in the South-East wanted restructuring.
Also speaking on behalf of former militants in the state, Ohimili Arinze, stated that they believed in the unity of Nigeria and would continue to support it, adding, “We don’t want to hear anything like Biafra in Imo State; we are fully in support of one Nigeria and we will not allow any self-serving group to come and disrupt the peace we are enjoying in this state.”
Meanwhile, Kanu, who arrived in Owerri at about 4:30pm, was received by IPOB supporters, who had convened at the Hospital Junction in the state capital, thereby causing heavy traffic.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, the IPOB leader said, “I will die installing Biafra. It is Biafra or nothing. I am in Owerri to continue with the message of Biafra. Nobody can stop us. We don’t want restructuring; it is either Biafra or nothing.
“We have said no to those pretending to be representing us. There is no hope in Nigeria, there can never be justice in Nigeria. Biafra has finally come to stay. Don’t be deceived, I told Ohaneze that restructuring would fail; has it not failed today?”
Speaking to one of our correspondents, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, Chris Ezike, said the pro-Biafra rally was closely being monitored by his men, assuring residents and visitors of their safety.
Our correspondents noted that there was a massive deployment of heavily-armed policemen, who spread across the routes followed by the IPOB supporters.
PUNCH
