MASSOB Leader Blasts IPOB’s ESN, Embraces Ebubeagu For Southeast

The leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike says the Eastern Security Network (ESN) is not a legal security outfit for the southeast region.

This is as he also declared that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who set up the ESN has no power to set up such outfits.

Uwazuruike made his view known on Tuesday while speaking during an interview of TVC’s ‘Your View’ programme.

According to him, only Governors from the region had the constitutional powers to set up such outfits and that is why he and his group are embracing the ‘Ebubeagu’ recently set up by the governors.

He also blasted Kanu and ESN, saying the security outfit exists only on social media.

In his words, “It is only the South-East governors that have the authority to establish a security outfit for the people of the South-East. No individual has the right to establish any security outfit for the South-East. I have the capacity to establish a security outfit for the South-East but I didn’t do that because we must believe in the rule of law.

“We have elected, able governors who are entitled to do such function; no individual, no matter who you are, without consultation should open a security outfit for the South-East region.

“So, it is only the Ebubeagu opened and established by the governors that is recognized as the security outfit for the South-East.

“There is nothing like Eastern Security Network. Nobody believes in Eastern Security Network, that is just an internet affair, on social media networks.”

Naija News reports that the South-East Governors on Sunday established a regional security outfit to tackle security issues in the region.

The governors at the meeting which was held in Owerri, Imo State capital announced the establishment of EBUBEAGU, which will have its headquarters in Enugu State.

The MASSOB leader however acknowledged that the security situation in the southeast needs attention and he is willing to contribute 5,000 personnel to Ebubeagu.

“I’m willing to donate 5,000 men and women to work with the South-East governors without interfering,” he said, adding that the South-East Houses of Assembly would soon back up the new security outfit with the instrument of law,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, has asked Nigerians to hold former Chiefs of Army Staff responsible for the purchase of arms and ammunition for the Nigerian military.

Naija News reports that former army chief included Generals Luka Yusuf, Kenneth Minimah, Azubuike Ihejirika, Abdulrahman Dambazau, and Tukur Buratai.

Appearing before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the matter in Abuja on Monday, the army chief distanced himself from any wrongdoing in the procurement of arms and ammunition running into billions of naira from 2011 till date.

Attahiru asked the lawmakers to ask “specific individuals” involved in the deals to account for the funds budgeted for procurement of weapons over the years.