Buhari arrives in Japan for African summit despite threat from Ipob to disrupt his visit

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Japan for the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development despite the threat of disruption from the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob).

Earlier this month, Senator Ekweremadu, the lawmaker representing Enugu West Senatorial District, was due to be the guest speaker at the New Yam Festival of the Igbo community in Nuremburg in Germany.  However, he was physically assaulted by Ipob members, with his top torn to shreds, as the separatist group vented their anger on him, forcing the senator to flee the venue.

Since then, Ipob has threatened to step up its attacks on public dignitaries who travel abroad. With President Buhari arriving in Japan, Ipob members have flooded into the country from all over Asia, promising to stage a massive protest and disrupt his stay in Tokyo but so far, his trip has gone by peacefully.

This morning, a welcome party of Japanese hostesses wearing traditional African attires welcomed President Buhari at the airport. Kicking off on Wednesday and lasting until Friday, the summit President Buhari is attending will take place in the City of Yokohama and it is expected that Ipob will picket the event.

President Buhari's entourage to Japan included Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, foreign minister Geoffrey Onyema and the Nigerian ambassador to Japan Mohammed Gana Yisa. Also on the trip were Governor Babajide Sanwoolu of Lagos State, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State and Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman of Kwara State.