Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, on Tuesday, declared that he will not dethrone the father of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) from the traditional stool.
The governor, who stated this while speaking with State House reporters after visiting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, said he clearly separated Kanu from his father.
He said that the processes of handling traditional institutions are enshrined in the laws of the land.
Israel Kanu is the ruler of Isiama Afaraukwu in Umuahia, Abia State.
“The traditional rulers who are members of his immediate constituency have leadership. They will do the needful at the appropriate time.
“But for me I think there is a clear division between Nnamdi Kanu and his father,” Okezie said.
Ikpeazu declined to link the agitation to the alleged failure of leadership in the South East, saying that allegations were supposed to be treated by investigative officers which he was not trying to investigate.
The governor advised that leaders as perception builders should try to say things that were good about the country, not things that were bad.
“There are enough reasons to see that under our circumstance, we may not be in El Dorado yet but there are concerted efforts and attempts to make our place a better place.
“I do not see how, as an Igbo man, boxing myself into a smaller geographic entity will help the cause of the most widely travelled people in Nigeria.
“There are Igbos in Sambisa (Forest); what are you expecting of them if I narrow their geography of coverage.
“But agitation, marginalisation and infrastructure deficiencies, these are issues which are germane and they can be discussed, spoken about and addressed.
“But I do not know how in the 21st century taking up arms in my kitchen will grow the prosperity of my people.’’
The governor assured Nigerians that the crisis created by the face-off between security operatives and IPOB in his state was over and assured everyone of safety of lives and property.
