Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has responded to the statement credited to the governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi on Eastern Security Network.
Kanu in a statement signed by IPOB publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, said the group does not need the approval of the south-east governors for its security outfit to operate.
Abacityblog.com reported that Umahi, who doubles as the chairman of South-East governors forum, had in a statement said, said Igbo political leaders have no hand in the move which he described as “very laughable and should be totally ignored”.
Reacting via the statement, Kanu accused the governors of being against the wish of the masses, describing their disapproval of the outfit as “very shameful” and “cowardly”.
“They only further exposed their emptiness and detachment from the people,” he said.
“At a time when well-meaning individuals and groups from the entire Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt are hailing the setting up of ESN, the so-called Governors are busy advertising their opposition to the people they claim to be leading. Anyway, they never had the mandate of the people. So, we are not surprised.”
IPOB, however, said its message to the governors regarding the new outfit is that “the train has since left the station and can’t reverse its course”.
“It’s pretty too late to have a rethink. The people have got what they long desired which the cowardly Governors failed to give them because of selfish political interest,” he added.
