Okorocha dissociates S’East leaders from pro-Biafra protests By Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri on October 22, 2015 5:55 am

Rochas

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.”