The Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has distanced himself from allegations currently being circulated in some sections of the media including social media that he called for the hanging of detained Director of Radio Biafra and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Okorocha described the reports as malicious and an attempt to malign his name ahead of the much-anticipated 2019 general elections.
In a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor warned all purveyors of the falsehood to desist from doing so.
He said: : “The attention of the Imo State Government has once again been drawn to another fictitious allegation in the social media claiming that the state Governor had called for the hanging of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB).
“Governor Okorocha does not know Nnamdi Kanu. He reads about him on the pages of newspapers like every other Igbo man or Nigerian. Whether he lives or dies, does not have any value to add to Governor Okorocha’s life including his politics. So one begins to wonder why Governor Okorocha should call for his hanging.
“If he dies, will Okorocha become Director of Radio Biafra or IPOB leader? You ask again, whether one million Nnamdi Kanu could constitute any threat to Okorocha in anyway. The answer is obviously ‘no’. Then what is Okorocha’s interest in Kanu’s death or life that he would call for his hanging.
“The elements behind this latest moonlight tale also claimed that the Imo Governor had made the call on January 15, 2016 in a meeting with what they called Igbo Elders’ Forum.
“They did not mention the venue of the said meeting or those at the meeting. Incidentally, the same January 15, 2016 (Friday) was the day the Governor travelled out of the country for a brief vacation”.