IPOB confronted Obiano in church; No election and seek for referendum
Members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Sunday, July 30 confronted Anambra state governor Willie Obiano while he was in church.
According to reports, the incident occurred at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ekwulobia area of Anambra.
An eyewitness said the pro-Biafra agitators came to protest the oncoming governorship election in the state and they chanted ‘no election’ as they confronted the governor.
The atmosphere was charged with so much tension that it took utmost care from security operatives.
“Governor Obiano had gone to the church to worship, only to be embarrassed by IPOB members in their hundreds, if not thousands, who stormed the church in buses.
“They were chanting ‘No election in Anambra on November 18’. The Governor had to be smuggled out by his security details,” the eyewitness said.
However, a member of the governor’s press crew said the governor was not disturbed in any way, adding that despite the presence of the IPOB youths outside the church, he still addressed the congregation towards the end of the service and stayed till the end.
He said: “It is not true that the governor was smuggled out of the church. What happened was that the security men had to stop the agitators at the gate of the church when they started shouting “no election, no election.
“The governor even addressed the issue while speaking to the congregation by assuring Anambra people that there will be election in the state in November.
” He said nobody can stop election in the state and observed that most of the anti- election protesters are not from Anambra State.”
The Anambra State Police Commissioner Mr. Garba Umar who confirmed the incident, warned that the police would no longer tolerate such impunity.
He, however said the intention of the protesters was not to attack the governor.
He said: “You, press people should report this and that is that we will no longer tolerate this impunity from anybody.
“Why should they protest to the church? The church is a place of worship and not a place of protest. It is obvious that they had criminal intention to attack the governor.
” The police had to stop them at the gate. If they had dared my men; it would have been a different story. We can’t watch anybody breach public peace in this state. They should be warned to desist from this impunity”.
About two weeks ago, a group of youths suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra had allegedly disrupted a church function attended by the governorship candidate of the Progressives Peoples Alliance, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo.
The conflict happened at Odoekpe, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.
According to reports, the incident occurred at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ekwulobia area of Anambra.
An eyewitness said the pro-Biafra agitators came to protest the oncoming governorship election in the state and they chanted ‘no election’ as they confronted the governor.
The atmosphere was charged with so much tension that it took utmost care from security operatives.
“Governor Obiano had gone to the church to worship, only to be embarrassed by IPOB members in their hundreds, if not thousands, who stormed the church in buses.
“They were chanting ‘No election in Anambra on November 18’. The Governor had to be smuggled out by his security details,” the eyewitness said.
However, a member of the governor’s press crew said the governor was not disturbed in any way, adding that despite the presence of the IPOB youths outside the church, he still addressed the congregation towards the end of the service and stayed till the end.
He said: “It is not true that the governor was smuggled out of the church. What happened was that the security men had to stop the agitators at the gate of the church when they started shouting “no election, no election.
“The governor even addressed the issue while speaking to the congregation by assuring Anambra people that there will be election in the state in November.
” He said nobody can stop election in the state and observed that most of the anti- election protesters are not from Anambra State.”
The Anambra State Police Commissioner Mr. Garba Umar who confirmed the incident, warned that the police would no longer tolerate such impunity.
He, however said the intention of the protesters was not to attack the governor.
He said: “You, press people should report this and that is that we will no longer tolerate this impunity from anybody.
“Why should they protest to the church? The church is a place of worship and not a place of protest. It is obvious that they had criminal intention to attack the governor.
” The police had to stop them at the gate. If they had dared my men; it would have been a different story. We can’t watch anybody breach public peace in this state. They should be warned to desist from this impunity”.
About two weeks ago, a group of youths suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra had allegedly disrupted a church function attended by the governorship candidate of the Progressives Peoples Alliance, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo.
The conflict happened at Odoekpe, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.
Comments