Former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has absolved the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB of being responsible for the reported attack on school children sitting for the West African Examination Council, WAEC examination in Imo State, Igbere TV reports.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential running mate in the 2019 general elections, stated this while speaking to journalists following the report of the attack which fingered IPOB as the mastermind of the attack.
Obi tagged the action as un-Igbo, out of place and a misguided aggression. He also added that following the suspension of the sit-at-home order by IPOB, it is reasonable to suspect that other forces might be hiding behind IPOB to draw back the South-East through such acts as well as the needless call for stay at home on Mondays.
He said, “I do not believe any Igbo man would contemplate attacking innocent school children, more so those taking their WAEC exams, to compete with the rest of West Africans over academic excellence. Education should ideally be treated as something “sacred’, because it is not just about the future of the children, but also the future of the society.”
Based on his observations, Obi called for proper investigations to unravel those behind the attack.
“Since IPOB has announced suspension of sit-at-home, it is reasonable to suspect that other forces might be hiding behind IPOB to draw back the South-East through such acts as well as the needless call for stay at home on Mondays, a critical day for business/official work, which is only hurting the economy of the South-East.
‘It is perplexing against the fact that IPOB had issued countless press releases suspending the Monday sit-at-home and therefore could not logically be responsible for the attack.
While wondering who the attackers might be, Obi called for proper investigations to unravel those behind the attack.
Obi urged political leaders to further strengthen their collective engagements with the view to charting the best path for the South-East.
“Would investors come to the zone under the present condition? Would established businesses not think of leaving the South-East under such a condition? Would traders from neighbouring countries that flock Aba and Onitsha on Mondays not seek and stick with alternatives? Would some industries not think of re-locating?”, the former governor queried.
Obi further called on political leaders to further strengthen their collective engagements with the view to charting the best path for the South-East zone.
