Angered by viral video, top monarch denies Nnamdi Kanu, orders arrest of alleged palace emissary for attending IPOB meeting (video)

- The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, describes a man who claims to be an emissary from Calabar kingdom as an impersonator

- The monarch orders security agencies to unmask and arrest the alleged impersonator

- Chief Jonas Udeji, the founder of Ohaneze Ndigbo, a socio-cultural group in South Africa, says the stance of its national body not to boycott the Anambra governorship election is in order

The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, has dismissed reports making the rounds on social media that he sent an emissary to leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The Obong, reacting to a video showing a man who claimed to be his emissary in a meeting with the IPOB leader, described the man whose identity could not established as an impersonator.

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The monarch also asked security agencies to unmask and arrest the man immediately.

The traditional ruler in a statement by the chairman of the Etuboms’ traditional council of the palace of the Obong of Calabar, HRH Etubom Bassey Okor Bassey Duke, said the man claiming to represent the monarch was an imposter with dubious intentions.

The palace described the content of this video as an insult, and dissociated itself from the contents of the video, This Day reports.

The statement in part read: “The attention of the Obong of Calabar-in-Council has been drawn to a video currently making the rounds on social media in which a person is seen claiming to have been sent by the Obong of Calabar to ask Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB to visit him.

“The Obong of Calabar is one of only eight rulers recognised by the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Natural Rulers and Treaty Kings whose kingdoms existed hundreds of years before the amalgamation, and who interacted with, and signed Treaties and Agreements with Sovereign Nations in Africa and Europe.

“The content of this video is therefore a ridiculous insult, and the Obong of Calabar-in-Council dissociates itself completely from everything to do with the person and fake message carried in the video.

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“From the poor illegitimate dressing, intonation, accent and comportment, it is clear that the person is a petty impersonator with dubious intentions. While freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution it does not extend to endorsing the propagation of falsehood of making fraudulent claims.

“The Obong of Calabar-in-Council, therefore calls on the security agencies to live up to expectation and immediately arrest and prosecute the impersonator whose face can clearly be seen in the video."

Below is the video where the man claimed to have been sent by the Obong of Calabar:

Meanwhile, Chief Jonas Udeji, the founder of Ohaneze Ndigbo, a socio-cultural group in South Africa, says the stance of its national body not to boycott the Anambra governorship election is in order.

Nnamdi Kanu, the self proclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had called for the boycott of the Nov. 18 election in Anambra.

In reaction, Udeji said in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday that Kanu was not qualified to give such a directive on behalf of Igbos.

According to him, Igbos should collectively decide on such sensitive issues under the leadership of Ohaneze, their apex body, and not based on an individual’s directive.

He said that Anambra people had the right to elect their governor and other representatives at the local government, state and national levels.

Udeji said that Ohaneze under Nwodo`s leadership had been focused and remained determined to achieve set goals and objectives.

In the video below, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, addresses his followers in Isiama Afara, Abia state.