By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The decision by Southeast Governors Forum led by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State to ban activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the region has been hailed by youths and elders in the area under the aegis of Southeast Youths and Elders Forum.
The group, in a statement made available to Business Post on Saturday night, said it commends “the entire Southeast Governors Forum for not sitting on the fence when this issue of IPOB started from the early stage to this ugly stage.”
In the statement signed by Mazi Ikechukwu Edwin, Director of Media and Publicity, the group recalled that in May this year, “we warned Mr Nnamdi Kanu to respect constituted authority in Nigeria and stop flaunting his bail conditions, but in his characteristic zeal, he ignored our warning and went ahead with his illegal activities.”
“However, report reaching us indicates that Nnamdi Kanu had sent his family members abroad for safety before mobilising the ignorant youths in Igboland to die for a selfish cause disguised as Igbo cause,” the body alleged in the statement.
The Southeast Youths and Elders Forum urged Governors in the region to “continue to shine the light for the entire Southeast region to follow as our youths wing have resolved to defend them from misguided youths who heap insults on them in the media.
“The Igbo cause would be championed in a civilised manner better than the unreasonable approach adopted by Mr Kanu.”
This week, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) declared IPOB as a terrorists’ organisation, claiming its activities have become threat to Nigeria.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Aduragbemi Omiyale