Press Release:MILITARY DON'T TAKE ORDERS FROM GOVERNOR IKPEAZU

Our attention has been drawn to a malicious report on the internet
ostensibly inspired by the opposition in Abia State to the effect
that Governor Ikpeazu ordered troops of the Nigerian Army to
shoot at members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, protesting
against the continuous detention of the Director of Radio Biafra,
Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

We want to state that since the regime of the mass protest by
IPOB/MASSOB, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu,
has continued to sue for peace and has personally commended
both the IPOB leaders and the security agencies on their
mutuality of understanding in handling the protest which has
ensured that the street matches never resulted in any open
violence.

As the Chief Security Officer of the state, Dr. Ikpeazu is
responsible for law and order in the state and also responsible
for protecting the lives and property of every citizenry in Abia
State.

He has lived out this responsibility both in his personal disposition
and in his public conduct as the governor of the state. His
message to the youths has always been that they conduct
themselves within the ambit of the law and in a manner that
would not cause a breach of public peace.

It must also be noted that Governor Ikpeazu does not have the
powers to order or mobilize the Armed Forces to shoot at any
group. The Army takes its orders directly from the military high
command and from the Federal Government. The Army exist to
protect the territorial integrity of the country and wade off external
aggression and only intervene when there is a high level of threat
to peace and breakdown of law and order.

While the Governor regrets any confrontation between the IPOB
members and the security agencies which may have resulted in
violence today, he is also using the medium to appeal to the
good people of the state and particularly the youths of Aba to
give peace a chance and desist from actions that will lead to
further violence.

Abia is a peaceful state and we all must protect and cherish our
heritage of a peaceful and comfortable state.

Signed
Godwin Adindu
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor