A group known as Ibeku Youth Assembly (IYA), has vowed to resist any attempt from any quarters to depose the father of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Eze Israel Kanu.
Eze Kanu is the traditional ruler of Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku in Abia State.
The group vowed to resist such move by the ‘faceless’ organisation, which it alleged was sponsored by a chieftain of a particular political party in Abia State.
In a statement signed by its secretary, Mr. Ihechi Chinedu Zik, in Umuahia, the IYA said that it would not tolerate such plan by ‘unscrupulous elements to depose the highly respected Monarch in Abia State and the country as a whole.’
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the categorization of IPOB as a terrorist organization by the Nigeria Army.
“We, Ibeku Youth Assembly viewed it as illegal, because since IPOB started its agitations for a sovereign state of Biafra, they have been conducting themselves peacefully without arms.
“So, we wondered how the Army will classify IPOB as terrorist’s group, when the Fulani herdsmen that have killed many innocent citizens of this country have not been labeled as terrorists.
“IPOB as we know, has not commit any treasonable act that will warrant the army to pronounce it as terrorist organisation. We appeal to the Army to be cautious in their operation while carrying its activities in Abia State and south east zone in general. Again, South east is not a war zone.
“Our governors from south east zone met in Enugu and took decision, banning IPOB activities in the region. In our opinion, we don’t think this is the right time to do it . We believe that the decision banning IPOB in the south east was taken by governors due to their second term ambition. Because they do not want to identify with IPOB due to fears of losing second term bid election.
“We are calling on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu not to heed to the call by the faceless group that Eze Kanu should be deposed over the Biafra agitation by his son, Nnamdi Kanu. To our knowledge, Eze Kanu has not done anything wrong”. Nnamdi Kanu agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra is his fundamental rights. So, the question is “where did Eze Kanu go wrong?
“We will resist such move by this group, consists of disgruntled elements who are being sponsored by a politician from a particular political party in Abia State.
“Any attempt by the state government to remove Eze Kanu will spell doom for the state and we will ensure the state is shut down if such plan is carried out.
“We are also condemning the alleged invasion of the residence of Eze Kanu by soldiers in search of his son, Nnamdi Kani. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw soldiers, nicknamed “operation Python Dance 11” from the street of Umuahia following cases of killings by Nigeria Army.
“We are living in fears due to the heavy presence of soldiers. Umuahia is not a war zone. People are being killed like animals in Umuahia. It is condemnable the unwanton killing of IPOB members, who are only exercising their right.”
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