IPOB says it doesn’t need any Okorocha, Uche Nwosu, Hope Uzodimma or any politician for sponsorship
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Tuesday said the gestapo-type abduction of Uche Nwosu, governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in the 2019 elections in a church has exposed those behind the unprecedented level of insecurity in Imo State in particular and Southeast generally.
The group also said that its activities are financed through donations by family members home and abroad and not by politicians.
IPOB said it was well grounded and does not need Rochas Okorocha, Uche Nwosu, Hope Uzodinma or, indeed, any politician for sponsorship. The group also said it has no dealings with corrupt politicians and people with questionable source of wealth.
Uche Nwosu, son-in-law to former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, was abducted by men dressed in security uniforms after they stormed St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Eziama Obaire Nkwerre, in the Diocese of Orlu, Imo State on Sunday.
The manner of the arrest led many to conclude that he must have been abducted by unknown gunmen.
But the Imo State Police Command later dismissed the rumour, saying he was arrested by its men and not kidnappers.
Many Nigerians have condemned the manner of arrest. Most Rev David Onuoha, the Archbishop of Anglican Province of Owerri, in condemning the raid said: “That the police jumped inside the church in a gestapo style when the service was in full session is reprehensible, primitive, and highly condemnable.”
Following the intense backlash over the gestapo-style arrest, Imo State government also joined in condemning the assault.
Fingers of blame are pointing in the direction of Governor Hope Uzodimma who is locked in a supremacy battle with the former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
In a statement on Monday, Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said the arrest of Uche Nwosu at the church premises was avoidable and stands condemned.
“For the avoidance of doubt, while the government believes that no stone should be spared in the effort to rid the State of criminality and banditry, it will not support any form of disrespect for a place of worship by security agencies.
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“In this regard the arrest of Mr. Nwosu within the church premises could have been avoided and therefore stands condemned,” the statement read.
But unimpressed, IPOB said the abduction has exposed the masterminds of insecurity in the State.
The self-determination group headed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, titled, “Abduction of Uche Nwosu has exposed masterminds of insecurity in Imo state,” stated: “Nwosu’s incident on Sunday has again vindicated the group. This is another vindication that IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN) are not responsible for the numerous attacks, abductions/kidnappings in Imo State contrary to false accusations and propaganda. But God Almighty, Chukwu Okike Abiama, has exposed them this time around.”
The group also said, contrary to the belief in certain quarters, that no single individual can sponsor IPOB.
“For the umpteenth time, no single individual can sponsor IPOB. We are a global movement and millions of our family members home and abroad remain the source of our sponsorship.
“We have never hidden this fact because we are not a secret or terror organisation. IPOB is well grounded and we don’t need any Okorocha, Uche Nwosu or Hope Uzodinma or any politician for that matter to sponsor us. We have no dealings with corrupt politicians and people with questionable source of wealth.”
In condemning the manner of Uche Nwosu’s arrest, IPOB said: “It’s now transparently obvious to all who the masterminds of the abductions/killings of many traditional rulers and religious leaders including politicians in Imo State and other parts of South East are.
“It is also now clear who created unknown gunmen to demonise and implicate IPOB and ESN operatives. God Almighty Chukwu Okike Abiama who designed this fight for Biafra freedom and independence has always vindicated us and will continue to vindicate IPOB/ESN.”
