— UIO
By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The national leader of Ukomu Igala Organisation (UIO), Elder David Abutu has on behalf of Igala Kingdom dissociated itself from the agitation and deny any link, whatsoever, with the agitation.
In a press statement signed by the national leader of Ukomu Igala Organisation (UIO), Elder David Abutu and the secretary, Comrade Gabriel Edicha said “the attention of Ukomu Igala Organization (UIO) has been drawn to the proclamation, declaration and publications, which tend to list the Igala kingdom in Kogi State, as one of those agitating for the United States of Biafra Republic.”
“The organisation, on behalf of Igala Kingdom wishes to entirely dissociate itself from the agitation and deny any link, whatsoever, with the agitation.”
In the statement, the Organisation views this ugly development as unequivocally erroneous, deeply concerning and provocative .
“Granted that we are neighbours with the people of eastern Nigeria, but the Igala people in Kogi State have historically little in common with the agitators for United States of Biafra Republic, neither do we share common values and interests from the discredited agitation.”
The statement pointed out that the inclusion of Igala Kingdom on the map of the proposed United States of Biafra, as recently reported widely by the media, is at best fraudulent, as none of the key figures of Igala land , including political leaders and traditional rulers have ever supported the obnoxious agitation.
“For the record, Igala Kingdom, under the traditional rulership of His Royal Majesty, Alaji Matthew Opaluwa Oguche-Akpa, the Attah Igala, considers Nigeria as a home, and it’s also working to sustain its corporate existence and development.”
“Let it be known also that geopolitical and historical considerations, connect the Igala nation more to the north Central part of Nigeria, than the south east.”
“We repeat: Ukomu Igala Organization hereby dissociates the Igala nation from the purported proclamation, declaration and publications listing the Igala nation as one of the agitators for the so called United States of Biafra.”
“We strongly believe in the Nigerian project and shall work to keep it as one indivisible entity.”
