Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, has vowed that the State would not be part of the Biafra Republic being canvassed for by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), in the South-East region of the country.
Umahi stated this on Friday, during an Inter-denominational prayer Summit organised in Abakaliki, the State capital, by the Office of the Wife of the Governor, in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN).
According to him, being part of the proposed Biafra would amount to second slavery for Ebonyi State.
“As the father of Ebonyi, I want to make it clear that we will never be in Biafra, we will not. We will not go back to second slavery. We want to belong to Nigeria. We want to belong to a fair and equitable Nigeria. And let me make it clear, zoning or no zoning, party or no party, South-East must not be schemed out of the affairs of this country.
Umahi also commended the Wife of the President, First Lady A’isha Buhari, for initiating the summit for Nigeria to seek the face of God over the seemingly intractable security problems confronting the nation.
He announced a N2 million cash reward for anyone with useful information that could lead to the arrest of bandits terrorising some parts of the state and a “comprehensive amnesty” for repentant bandits.
“Anywhere you are and you an Ebonyi man, whether in the West or South-East, I am ready to stop everything to empower you. We are ready to empower our youths”, he stated.
Umahi also refuted the reports in the social media that Ebonyi indigenes were responsible for the violent activities of the proscribed IPOB in Anambra and Enugu States, adding that as leaders they would work with God and the people to enthrone peace in all parts of the country.
According to him, peace and security should be the collective responsibility of everyone.
He urged IPOB and Eastern Security Network to disband and allow governors and other South-East leaders to pursue a political solution to the agitation against marginalisation.
Earlier, his wife, Rachel, extolled the president’s wife for directing the prayer summit, which aimed at seeking the face of God to restore peace in the country.
She said the summit was organised in line with the First Lady’s directive to seek divine intervention over the protracted security challenges bedevilling the nation.
The Chairman of CAN, South-East zone and Senior Special Adviser to Ebonyi governor, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, delivered the sermon at the event.
