Chatham Experience: Official Reaction of Imo State Govt to the Disruption by IPOB

THE UNFORTUNATE ATTEMPT BY IPOB MEMBERS TO DISRUPT GOVERNOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA’S CHATHAM HOUSE SPEECH: IMO GOVERNMENT TAKES EXCEPTION TO THAT.

Imo State Government, and the people of the state in general have noted with disdain the unfortunate and embarrassing action of the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, when they had undertaken to disrupt Governor Rochas Okorocha’s speech at the world-famous Chatham House London which he was invited to deliver.

The IPOB members on that disturbing mission said they acted that way, because Governor Okorocha has not supported their actions or the actions of any other pro-Biafra group. That was their only reason for throwing caution to the wind and invading the Chatham House to disrupt such a wonderful outing by a bonafide leader and son of Igbo land.

As a government, we do not hesitate to commend the high level of maturity which the governor and few of the senior government functionaries who made the trip with him had exhibited in the face of such unprovoked and ill-advised action of the IPOB members at Chatham House.

It is even worrisome that members of a group like IPOB that have always given the impression that they are fighting for the course of Igbos would decide to storm the Chatham House to cause trouble at an event one of the best in Igboland was invited to deliver a speech on the way forward for our society.

Indeed, if IPOB apostles would undertake to embarrass an Igbo leader of Governor Okorocha’s status in London, then, their claim that they are fighting or agitating in the interest of Ndi Igbo should be taken with a pinch of salt by those who had hitherto, believed them.

It was very unreasonable on the part of the IPOB members to think that a man like Governor Okorocha who has built schools across the nation as his own contribution to the Unity of Nigeria and had in the past also sought to be the president of the country would come out to support IPOB or any other pro-Biafra group campaigning for sovereignty.

All over the world, groups fighting for one reason or the other presumably for their people, do not loose sight of what certain leaders in the areas represent and accord them the needed respect no matter what they hold against such leaders.

At this juncture, we appropriate the liberty to take exception to the action of the IPOB members on Wednesday at CHATHAM HOUSE. Igbos are wise people who do not act anyhow in situations or circumstances. The IPOB action at Chatham House was not only embarrassing to Governor Okorocha as an Igbo leader, but also to Ndi-Igbo in general both at home and in diaspora and indeed to all men and women of goodwill.

All the same, we make bold to felicitate with the governor for that wonderful speech at the Chatham House inspite of the IPOB action. He gave good account of himself as a highly informed leader.