BEVERLY HILLS, September 19, (THEWILL) – The Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has declared that he would not dethrone Eze Israel Kanu, the father Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), over the group’s activities.
Speaking with State House correspondents, on Tuesday, after meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the governor said he would separate the father from the son in handling the matter.
THEWILL recalls that a group of youths from Umuahia have called for the dethronement of Kanu’s father, the traditional ruler of Isiama Afaraukwu in Umuahia, over the activities of IPOB which has led to the deployment of security personnel to Umuahia and the proscription of IPOB.
However, Ikpeazu stated that there is a clear division between Nnamdi Kanu and his father and they should be separated adding that the processes of handling traditional institutions are enshrined in the laws of our land.
“I clearly separate Kanu from his father. The processes of handling traditional institutions are enshrined in the laws of our land. And traditional rulers who are members of our constituency have leadership and they will do the needful at the appropriate time,” he said.
“But for me, I think there is a clear division between Nnamdi Kanu and his father.
“But if you are referring to what happened in the past one week. Nigerians know that for some time now that this group called IPOB was agitating for a separate nation called Biafra and that the home state of the leader of that group is Abia State.
“As expected, when such things happen there is an interface between some members of that group and the military, and the theatre was Abia State.
“And some people attempted to hijack that event to conflagrate our country. To the glory of God the rest is history, we are still working to stabilize the fragile peace in the region.
“I thank God also for the instruments he used to keep our country as one. We are humbled by the privileges.”
