Killing on Biafra Anniversary: Obiano compiles lists of injured MASSOB members

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State yesterday said his government has compiled the names of injured Members of the Movement of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB).
Obiano then called for calm over the crisis rocking Nkpor community even as he pledged to offset the hospital bills of some Biafra agitators injured during the celebration to mark the 49th anniversary of declaration of Biafra Nation.
Obiano made the pledge at Nkpor town hall when he came to sympathize with the people of Nkpor on the alleged bloody clash between the security operatives and the Biafran agitators in which about 50 members were reportedly massacred and scores injured.

According to the Governor “we have compiled the list of the injured in the different hospitals where they are hospitalized”.

He urged the Nkpor people to always ward off undesirable elements who come into the community to tarnish their image.

He said, “I came to sympathize to you for what happened. “Before I came in as the Governor people did not sleep but now we sleep, don’t allow strangers to disturb Nkpor, nothing happens under my watch” he said.

He recalled that he used diplomacy to evacuate Boko Haram suspects brought into Ekwulobia Prisons and also gave befitting burial to Biafra war heroes.

Drama however, played out when the interim caretaker committee chairman of the community, Mr. Ngozi Anyakorah was asked earlier to address the Governor on behalf of the community as shouts of no!, no!!, no!!! from the audience rented the air in disobedience that they did not want him and the committee any longer.

On sensing that there would be rowdiness which may degenerate into chaos, the microphone was removed from him.

Pleading for calm, the chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area, Chief Emma Idemobi, said “we understand you have problem in your community but you should channel it through appropriate quarters to avoid disgracing the Governor who has come to sympathize with you”.

Also reacting, the chairman of Mgbachu village, Chief Christopher Aniemeka said, “for nine years now the so called caretaker committee has held the community hostage, they are defunct, we had since passed vote of no confidence on them and this thing that happened today is what we have been clamoring for”.

According to him two persons have been parading themselves as leaders of the community after about 10 of them resigned their membership because of maladministration”. 

Also speaking, the Chairlady of Mgbachu Women wing, Mrs. Philomena Okonkwo accused the caretaker committee of using money to lure some of the youths to support them and appealed to the State Government to conduct election into the executive of the community.

But in a swift reaction, a chieftain of All Progressive Congress APC, Chief Zeribe Ezeanuna, demands apology from the Governor over the alleged massacre of the agitators at Nkpor recently.
The APC chieftain, Chief  Ezeanuna regretted the bloody clash and accused the Governor of not giving adequate protection to the Biafra protesters who he said were on a peaceful protest against marginalization of the Igbos in all spheres of life.

He said, “the issue is not about Biafra but the people marginalization, the need to give them education, employment, good roads and other infrastructure lacking in a country where they are part and parcel of”.

“These are what we have been clamoring for and it is unfortunate that the Governor cannot defend his people.

There is nowhere in the world where you have civil war and you don’t have people remembering the war, so far Biafra must be remembered and I call on our people to support our leaders like Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Chris Ngige”.