Biafra: We Have Not Mandated Ohaneze to Negotiate Kanu’s Release, Says IPOB

(ONITSHA)

The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) said yesterday that the group has not mandated Ohaneze Ndigbo or any other youth group to negotiate for the release of its leader Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

The group noted that any negotiation on Biafra must be led by Nnamdi Kanu and nobody else.

In a statement signed by IPOB Spokespersons, Bar. Emma Mmezu and Dr Clifford C. Iroanya, on President Buhari’s interview with Al Jazeera and the arrest of Chief Victor Umeh, the group said that no single person can sponsor its struggle for Biafra because, according to them, the group is bigger than any one person.

The statement read in part:

“On the issue of Buhari’s Al Jazeera interview on Biafra, we welcome his comments because Biafra would not also tolerate Nigeria. Lugard created Nigeria not God Almighty. So, like the USSR, it will collapse. We (IPOB Worldwide) have decided not to go back on the quest for the restoration of Biafra. Nigeria is not bigger than the USSR nor is Buhari stronger than Michel Gobachev. Buhari can kill Biafrans as he did in 1967-1970, but this time will not be the same.”

“No amount of killings, intimidation, arrests, bribery of Ohaneze or cajoling can deter us. Our resolve is undiminished because to us and, as our leader will say, death is better than slavery.”

“The idea of linking Chief Victor Umeh to the worldwide phenomenon that is IPOB is a politically motivated witch-hunt that has no bearing on reality. Any close observer of the modus operandi of IPOB will know that the idea of one person sponsoring our activities and a Nigerian politician at that is an insult. IPOB is a global giant and no single person has the capacity to finance a movement in over 91 countries around the world.

“Our series of coordinated protests around the world is the first of its kind in modern history so how is it possible for one person to fund it? A few weeks back we gathered at the EU Parliament in Brussels from all over Europe; which politician can fund that? IPOB is funded primarily from the diaspora and we are not in the business of soliciting money or favour from those in Nigeria.”

“Anyone in doubt should listen to Radio Biafra for clarification. Unfortunately, some people think this is Biafra agitation of times gone by. How mistaken are they. What people are seeing in Biafraland and parts of Nigeria is nothing compared to what is happening all over the world. We will keep protesting until Biafra is set free,” the group said.

(Jeff Amechi Agbodo, SUN NEWS ONLINE)