The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared that it will
instantly end all agitations for an independent state of Biafra if
certain standard democratic norms are embraced by the Nigerian
government.
The group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, made the declaration while
responding to the question whether the emergence of a president of Igbo
extraction in 2019 can end the agitation for Biafra.
He said, “Nothing can make IPOB back down from this divine quest to
restore the lost sovereignty of Biafra. Only the will of the people,
clearly expressed during a referendum.
We hear Nnia Nwodo, Ohanaeze
Ndigbo, Igbo governors and Abuja-based errand boys, that we ignorantly
refer to as politicians or elites, tell us South East and South South
people do not want Biafra, which is a lie.
“There is only one way to establish the truth and settle this matter
once and for all time. That is referendum. If we lose in a referendum,
we stop the agitation for Biafra same day. The will of the people is
what must prevail under this and every circumstance.”
On the possibility of coming to the negotiation table with the FG, IPOB
maintained that Nigeria is not yet civilised enough to understand what
dialogue means.
“Neither are they known for keeping to the terms of any agreement
reached. Name one agreement Nigeria entered into that run it’s course.
They think we are for settlement, how mistaken they are. We will only
consider meeting them through a reliable third party or mediator.”
Powerful continues, “History tells us that all conflicts end up on the
conference table. Bearing this in mind, we will be willing to discuss
with civilised, sensible parties on how best to speedily facilitate the
peaceful dissolution of Nigeria. Many nationalities in the Middle Belt
are on the brink of annihilation due to incessant Fulani terrorist
attacks. It is a condition that is clearly unsustainable. The best way
to go is referendum.”
On the alleged IPOB offensive and violent approach to self
determination, IPOB denied and dismissed it as lies and fables peddled
by the FG to justify their serial massacre and brutality against IPOB.
Emma Powerful said, “It is very sad and unfortunate that people don’t
know the meaning of the phrase ‘violent approach’. Violence doesn’t need
dressing up in convoluted grammar because a situation is either violent
or it is not. What Fulani people are doing is violent.
What the
Nigerian Army dominated by Fulani men are doing is violent. Those of you
peddling the myth that IPOB preach violence are the same Abuja rented
boys and slaves in the mould of Ukpabi Asika. They will do and say
anything to please their Hausa Fulani masters in order to hold on to
political power and privilege.
The same way Britain imposed unwanted
corrupt men as Warrant Chiefs across Biafraland during the colonial era
is exactly the template the North adopted in the aftermath of the Civil
War to dominate, control and subjugate Igboland and the rest of
Biafraland. Have you heard of any Emir, Sultan,
Governor or politician
from the North condemn Fulani herdsmen who are actively killing people
on a daily basis? You know the answer to that. Only in Igboland will a
washed out, completely useless politician, beholden to Abuja for his
dear life, rise to the position of a leader. No other society will
accept such anomaly. IPOB is not violent and we don’t intend to pick up
arms anytime soon, when we do, the world will know.”
On why IPOB launched an Hausa radio service, Powerful said, “Hausa
Service of Radio Nigeria, mind you NOT Radio Biafra, was launched in
response to the failed attempt by the Nigerian state security service
(DSS) to infiltrate and destroy IPOB from within. The Nigerian
Government created a parallel radio station which we have since renamed
Radio Buhari International to reflect its true ownership. They proceeded
to launch another radio on shortwave frequency with our sacred name.
Both stations are based in the US. They named a non existent person the
leader of the great IPOB and claimed our leader and founder, Mazi Nnamdi
Kanu, has been replaced by this nonentity. It was at this point we
decided late last year to launch a Hausa language service to take our
unique enlightenment to the oppressed ethnic minorities in the North
because no enlightened society can swallow such junk. There is quality
information deficit across the North which this Hausa radio service run
by IPOB, on Shortwave, will address.”
He explained why they settled for Hausa, instead of any other Nigerian language.
“We chose Hausa language because the majority of those at the receiving
end of the falsehood propagated by the cabals in the North are their
fellow core Arewa Northerners. Educating the impoverished, down-trodden
masses of the North to understand the evil being committed in their
name
is important -the most important assignment today. We are convinced
that mass illiteracy and lack of access to unbiased information is the
reason a majority of Hausa Fulani people live and die in abject poverty
and ignorance while their ruling class loot and accumulate all the
wealth accruing to
them. Hausa Service of Radio Nigeria will provide a
different perspective in news coverage and analysis that will liberate
the masses of the North from centuries old stranglehold of the Fulani
ruling class. Put in simple terms, the Fulani hegemonic rule over
Indigenous Northern tribes has come to an end with the advent of this
Hausa Service radio station,” he said.
