From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), yesterday restated its stand that it wants referendum and not war as being alleged in some quarters in the country.
IPOB described as unfortunate, the interpretation given to its self -determination demand by a section of the North to mean declaration of war, insisting that its demand which is recognised in both United Nations Charter on Rights of Indigenous People and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, has nothing to do with armed conflict.
In a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB advised those misinterpreting self-determination, to study and assimilate the aforementioned UN Charter.
“We, members of IPOB and our leadership worldwide have observed the grand conspiracy by some politicians to interpret that IPOB, asking for self-determination is tantamount to declaration of war or asking for referendum as equal to hate speech.
“They always see civilised debate as a call to war, such people and the values they represent can never be reconciled with the civilising effects of genuine democracy that allows for freedom of expression.
“It is fair to assume, going by the utterances of certain corrupt segments of the Nigerian society, that most of what IPOB is saying and stands for is lost in translation because anybody with basic understanding of rudimentary English and constitutional law will know that self-determination does not mean war and that referendum is not hate speech.
“We would like to use this opportunity to clarify once again that IPOB is asking for self-determination as recognised in the United Nations Charter on the Rights of Indigenous People and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. Before these Northerners threaten us with war that IPOB hasn’t called for, let them spend a bit of their valuable time acquainting themselves with these charters and declarations.
“The only instrument IPOB has at its disposal is civil disobedience, which is entirely legal. Civil disobedience has nothing to do with armed conflict.
Powerful said IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, as a peaceful man, constituted the group on a peaceful foundation.
“Furthermore, people should study and assimilate the subtleties and nuances of English language before engaging in any public discussion regarding Biafra independence.
“Our leader. Kanu is a peaceful man. If some northerners wish to misunderstand him and IPOB’s aims and objectives, that is their business.
“Also, we understand that some people console themselves with the constant reference to a war fought over 50 years ago by saying those asking for Biafra did not see war. Ignorantly, they forget that the generation fighting today to defend Israel were not born when Hitler’s Nazi regime murdered six million Jews during the second world war.
The fact that our fathers were defeated in a war that Britain, USSR, Egypt and other Arab world fought against our people during the war between 1967 and 1970, does not mean we cannot ask for our freedom in 2017.
“If not the support of the British and their allied forces, there will be no way Nigeria could have defeated Biafra in a battle field. The gloating over the outcome of the Nigeria/Biafra war is a source of motivation for us, contrary to what people maybe thinking. We are not asking for war, rather, what we are requesting is referendum or plebiscite for Biafrans to decide if they want to remain in Nigeria or not.”he said.
“Nevertheless, no politician or elite has ever contributed a dime to IPOB and they will never, we are harder on local politicians than outsiders and most of IPOB finances come from monthly and voluntary contributions from our members worldwide.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa youths under the aegis of Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council (OBYC), yesterday took a swipe at the leader of IPOB, Kanu, for saying former president Goodluck Jonathan was weak and incompetent.
The group, in a statement signed by its National President, Dr. Laguo Gilbert, described Kanu’s statements as derogatory and most unfortunate, advising the public to disregard him and his false claims.
Part of the statement read: “Such radical utterances and position remain one of the reasons why IPOB agitation lacks required substance and support from major stakeholders.
“We sincerely advise the IPOB leader to learn from the mistakes made by past leaders of the group and his predecessor, as it will help him implement his vision.”
The group thus warned Kanu to quit associating honourable man like Jonathan with what it called “his directionless agitation” maintaining that bringing him into Biafra issues in such cavilling manner would neither help nor give credence to its deep-rooted rancour.
IPOB leader had reportedly chided the former president for not completing the East-West Road and for not attracting enough development for his people.
Kanu was quoted to have expressed his love for late presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Shehu Shagari, but insisted that Patience Jonathan would have made a better President than Goodluck.
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WE WANT REFERENDUM /sd We want referendum not war – IPOB •Bayelsans lampoon group leader over comment on Jonathan From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka and Fred Ezeh, Abuja The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday restated its stand that it wants referendum and not war as being alleged in some quarters in Nigeria. IPOB described as unfortunate, the interpretation given to its self -determination demand by a section of the North to mean declaration of war, insisting that its demand which is recognised in both United Nations Charter on the Rights of Indigenous People and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights has nothing to do with armed conflict. In a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB advised those misinterpreting self determination to study and assimilate the aforementioned UN Charter. The statement read: “We, members of IPOB and our leadership worldwide have observed the grand conspiracy by some politicians to interpret that IPOB asking for self-determination is tantamount to declaration of war or asking for referendum is equal to hate speech. “They always see civilised debate as a call to war, such people and the values they represent can never be reconciled with the civilising effects of genuine democracy that allows for freedom of expression. “It is fair to assume, going by the utterances of certain corrupt segments of the Nigerian society, that most of what IPOB is saying and stands for is lost in translation because anybody with basic understanding of rudimentary English and constitutional law will know that self-determination does not mean war and that referendum is not hate speech. “We would like to use this opportunity to clarify once again that IPOB is asking for self-determination as recognised in both United Nations Charter on the Rights of Indigenous People and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. Before these Northerners threaten us with war that IPOB hasn’t called for, let them spend a bit of their valuable time acquainting themselves with these charters and declarations. The only instrument IPOB has at its disposal is civil disobedience, which is entirely legal. Civil disobedience has nothing to do with armed conflict. The statement further said IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu as a peaceful man constituted the group with peaceful foundation. “Furthermore, people should better advised to study and assimilate the subtleties and nuances of English language before engaging in any public discussion regarding Biafra independence. “Our leader Kanu is a peaceful man that constituted IPOB with peaceful foundation and the sole aim is to liberate his people from humiliation and bondage. If some northerners wish to misunderstand him and IPOB’s aims and objectives, that is their business. “Also, we understand that some people console themselves with the constant reference to a war fought over 50 years ago by saying those asking for Biafra did not see war. Ignorantly they forget that the generation fighting today to defend Israel were not born when Hitler’s Nazi regime murdered six million Jews during the second world war. The fact that our fathers were defeated in a war that Britain, USSR, Egypt and other Arab world fought against our people during the war of genocide between 1967 and 1970, does not mean we cannot ask for our freedom in this 2017. “If not the support of British and their allied forces, there will be no way Nigeria could have defeated Biafra in a battle field. The gloating over the outcome of the Nigeria/Biafra war is a source of motivation for us, contrary to what people maybe thinking, we are not asking for war, rather what we are requesting is referendum or plebiscite for Biafrans to decide if they want to remain in Nigeria or not. “Nevertheless, no politician or elite has ever contributed a dime to IPOB and they will never, we are harder on local politicians than outsiders and most of IPOB finances come from monthly and voluntary contributions from our members worldwide. Meanwhile, Bayelsa youths under the aegis of Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council (OBYC), yesterday took a swipe at the leader of IPOB, Kanu, for saying former president Goodluck Jonathan was weak and incompetent. The group, in a statement signed by its National President, Dr. Laguo Gilbert, described Kanu’s statements as derogatory and most unfortunate, advising the public to disregard him and his false claims. Part of the statement read: “Such radical utterances and position remain one of the reasons why IPOB agitation lacks required substance and support from major stakeholders. “We sincerely advise the IPOB leader to learn from the mistakes made by past leaders of the group and his predecessor, as it will help him implement his vision.” The group thus warned Kanu to quit associating honourable man like Jonathan with what it called “his directionless agitation” maintaining that bringing him into Biafra issues in such cavilling manner would neither help nor give credence to its deep-rooted rancour. IPOB leader had reportedly chided the former president for not completing the East-West Road and for not attracting enough development for his people. Kanu was quoted to have expressed his love for late presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Shehu Shagari, but insisted that Patience Jonathan would have made a better President than Goodluck. |