The leadership of the Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned in its entirety, the verbal attack on Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu by Senator Smart Adeyemi, describing it as ‘an unprovoked insult and abuse’ against the governor and Ndigbo.
Senator Adeyemi had, while making contributions on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, described Ikpeazu as a “champagne drinking” governor and a habitual drunk.
MASSOB said this was not the first time Senator Adeyemi and his sponsors have picked on Igbo leaders for abuse because of their “inane hatred and disdain” for Ndigbo especially those seen to be doing well in development of Igbo land, adding that Abia State is rated the best third state for foreign investment and economic stability in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Thursday by the leader of MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu, the pro-Biafra group said it viewed the unprovoked assault on the sitting governor as an insult to Ndigbo, stressing that “we can never accept it, they are desperate to discredit Igbo leaders because of 2023 general election.”
The statement added: “MASSOB therefore warn Senator Adeyemi that he has 3 days to publicly apologize to the Governor and Ndigbo in general or risk sanctions including being declared persona non grata in all parts of Igbo land.
“We understand that Senator Adeyemi is being driven by his perceived hatred against Ndigbo or have been sponsored by the enemies of Ndigbo for political reasons because he is aspiring to be the next governor of Kogi state but we wish to warn him and others who lend themselves to be used against the aspirations of our people that we are ready for them. There is no nation in the world that will make progress while attempting to keep one part of the country down and this explains the lack of progress witnessed in Nigeria since the end of the civil war.
“This same issue is at the heart of our struggle to actualize our sovereign state of Biafra where Ndigbo can flourish without anyone seeking to keep us down or abuse our leaders.”
MASSOB also saluted Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe for his eloquent representation of Ndigbo, noting that “his consistency and unshakable spirit is worthy of emulation. It is a driven force for our self-determination struggle for Biafra actualization.”
