Obinna Odogwu, Abakaliki
Governor David Umahi has lamented the continued marginalisation of the people of South East geopolitical zone in the scheme of things in Nigeria.
Umahi who spoke yesterday in Abakaliki, the state capital, at an event marking Democracy Day, said although governors of the region have proscribed the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the continued marginalisation of Ndigbo has continued to fuel the agitation for Biafra.
He told members of IPOB not to hold any programme in the state, warning that any trader who obeys the sit-at-home order would have to forfeit his shop forever.
Meanwhile, there was pandemonium at the Abakaliki Stadium, Ebonyi, as police officers allegedly beat up and tear-gassed leaders of the state’s chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and their members during the event.
According to the members of the union who staged a walkout from the venue of the event, they were beating up, shoved about and teargassed by the police for no justifiable reason at they arrived the stadium.
State Chairman of NLC, Mr. Leonard Nkah, who led other executives and members of the union, alleged that they were hit with gun butts and manhandled severely. He lamented that it has become a recurring decimal. “Today at the gate, we were not allowed to enter. We came on time. We were invited. The security personnel stopped me at the gate as usual. At a point, one of them told me to cross alone when I have the members of my executives.