South-Eastern Leaders Reject Agitation For Biafra

Political leaders in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria have declared their rejection of the movement for the secession being championed by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The secession calls gained momentum after Kanu, who is standing trial for alleged treason, was released from prison on bail. The leaders were accused of keeping silent while the separatist group, joined by a faction of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), shut down commercial activities in the Southeast on May 30. The Igbo leaders who met in Enugu yesterday said they resolved in favour of a united Nigeria “where peace, love, fairness, justice, equity and equal opportunity are paramount, regardless of creed, ethnicity, gender or political affiliation”.They rejected the claim by MASSOB and IPOB that they speak for the zone. At the meeting were the five Southeast governors, National Assembly members, led by Deputy Senatre President Ike Ekweremadu, apex Igbo socio-cultural Igbo organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo, religious leaders and several others.