BIAFRA NEWS : We’re determined, disciplined freedom-fighting movement, not political thugs — IPoB tells FG

 

THE Indigenous People of Biafra IPoB, yesterday said it has no business with the Nigerian election, accusing the Federal Government of sponsoring election violence in South East, to blackmail IPoB.

The pro-Biafra group also said that Nigeria Federal Government is sponsoring insecurity in South East to disrupt the 2023 election because their candidate will lose the election, adding that it has unequivocally stated that part of its mode of operation in its agitation for freedom has not had never been, and will not be violent agitation for Biafra.  A statement by IPoB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, entitled, “IPoB has no business with Nigeria election and their campaign”, said its non-interest in the Nigerian election explains its consistent demand for a referendum.

IPoB’s statement read, “We the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, led and commanded by Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is very much aware that the Nigeria Government is, directly and indirectly, sponsoring election violence in Biafra land with the intention to internationally blackmail the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as an anti-democratic group.

“The IPOB leadership has for the umpteenth time stated unequivocally that part of our modus operandi in our agitation for freedom has never been, is not and will not be violent agitation.

“This explains our consistent demand for the UN to organise a Referendum in the Biafran territory for the Biafran people to determine their destiny. To this effect, IPOB is neither contemplating nor will it encourage or sponsor anyone or group to disrupt Nigeria’s shambolic selection process called an election

“IPOB has constantly made it public that we have no interest in and cannot legitimise the aberration they call an election in Nigeria. We are a focused, determined and disciplined freedom-fighting movement, not political thugs.

“IPOB is devoted to the cause of liberating our people from subjugation and from modern-day slavery and Neo-colonialism and will not allow ourselves to be distracted from this very objective.

“The world must hold to account the Nigeria Government and the criminals it is covertly recruiting and positioning in the South East to create an environment of violence and after causing the violence, will turn around to blame IPoB.

“IPOB is not part of Nigeria’s sham election and will never be part of it. IPOB is solely focused on Biafra Independence struggle which Nigeria Government and its allies are working very hard to derail with their daily propaganda and blackmail against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB members worldwide.

“Our demands are simple, simple, the unconditional release of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu, fix a date for a referendum for Biafrans to decide their fate either for freedom or for a Sovereign Biafran Nation or for permanent subjugation and oppression in the Republic of Nigeria.

“As we have said in our previous press statement, the Nigeria government and its compromised security agencies are responsible for most criminal activities going on in Biafraland and some other parts of Nigeria. This very fact has been confirmed by Nigeria Army officers in their letter to the Presidency”

BIAFRA NEWS : Can Peter Obi’s victory in 2023 presidential election end Biafra agitation?

 

Despite the excitement in the South-east over Peter Obi's presidential bid, support for the agitation for Biafra remains strong in the region.

Since 1999, some groups have been seeking the secession of the South-east region from Nigeria to become the independent Republic of Biafra.

Although the South-east is not the only region with separatist agitators, these groups have been most vocal and consistent in their quest.

The agitators said they are driven by feelings of marginalisation of the region in the power-sharing formulae of Nigeria and the distribution of resources by successive governments.

Also, alleged lopsided appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari to the disfavour of the South-east have been linked to the resurgence of the pro-Biafran agitation in the region lately.

No presidency

People in the region grew increasingly frustrated by their inability to produce Nigeria’s president since the return of democracy in 1999, despite some of the other regions producing at different times.

The region, which had largely supported the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was disappointed that the party, in May, picked its 2023 presidential candidate outside the region.

This was despite the clamour by South-east leaders that the region should be given a chance to produce the president in 2023.

Like the PDP, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) also picked its presidential candidate outside the region.

First secession attempt

The first attempt by the region to secede from Nigeria precipitated a 30-month civil war between 1967 and 1970, with the number of dead from fighting, disease and starvation estimated at between one and three million, according to a report by Cable News Network.

Odumegwu Ojukwu, as the then military governor Eastern Region, had declared the independence of the Sovereign State of Biafra on 30 May, 1967, drawing the ire of the then Military Government of Nigeria under Yakubu Gowon. The secessionists eventually surrendered after Mr Ojukwu fled into exile in January 1970.

More than 52 years after, the agitation for separation from Nigeria continues to flare.

Many believe this is due to the feeling of marginalisation as well as historical grievances of the Igbos, who accused the Nigerian government of genocide during the civil war.

Secession struggle continues

Between 1999 and 2022, several separatist groups emerged in the South-east agitating for an independent state of Biafra to be carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south region.

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) was the first pro-Biafra group to emerge in 1999 to push for the secession of the region.

MASSOB was founded by Indian-trained lawyer Ralph Uwazurike, after the defeat of a former vice president, Alex Ekwueme, by Olusegun Obasanjo in the presidential primaries of the PDP. But the group failed to gain traction and virtually disappeared until President Goodluck Jonathan, who was massively supported by the Igbos, lost his reelection bid in 2015.

Nnamdi Kanu, a supporter of Mr Jonathan, later floated the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB appears to be more organised and vocal than other pro-Biafra groups that emerged later, some of which have fizzled out.

Peter Obi factor

Since Peter Obi emerged as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), he has been enjoying growing support across the country.

Mr Obi, who hails from the South-east, also enjoys a large following in the region.

Although the former governor of Anambra State is not the only presidential candidate from the South-east, many residents of the region believe that he is a potent instrument for the realisation of the Igbo presidency dream.

The Igbos rely on the swelling support for Mr Obi to take a shot at the Nigerian presidency for the first time in 2023, according to many residents of the South East who spoke with this reporter.

Since his emergence as the LP candidate, IPOB has been less active in the South East, fueling speculations that Mr Obi’s victory at the 2023 poll could end the agitation for Biafra.

However, there are indications that such speculations may be misplaced.

Ohanaeze on Igbo presidency

A leading Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and other Igbo leaders have consistently backed the Igbo presidency bid, arguing that the South-east is the only region yet to produce Nigeria’s president.

Since the Fourth Republic started in 1999, four persons from three of Nigeria’s six regions have been elected president. They are Mr Obasanjo from the South-west, Umar Yar’adua and Mr Buhari from the North-west and Mr Jonathan from the South-south.

“Ndigbo are prepared and look forward to Igbo presidency as a national priority. It is also indeed reasonable and logical that before any other zone in the country goes for a second turn of occupying the office of the presidency, that Ndigbo should at least have their first turn,” the President-General of Ohanaeze, George Obiozor, said in January.

However, the group has also repeatedly maintained that the Igbos will remain in Nigeria, although it has shown considerable sympathy and clandestine support for IPOB and their agitation.

IPOB’s position

But IPOB has repeatedly insisted that Biafra Republic, not Igbo presidency, is its demand.

A faction of the IPOB, led by a Nigerian-Finnish citizen, Simon Ekpa, for instance, has been threatening to disrupt elections in the South-east, maintaining that the Igbo presidency cannot assuage the quest for Biafra.

“There will be no election in Biafraland until there is a possibility for a referendum,” Mr Ekpa reiterated in a Twitter post on Thursday.

Another faction of the IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu has also been calling for a referendum in the region.

In 2018, Emma Powerful, spokesperson of Mr Kanu’s IPOB faction, was asked by TheCable if an Igbo presidency would make the group back down from its agitation. He responded:

“Nothing can make IPOB back down from this divine quest to restore the lost Sovereign State of Biafra. Only the will of the people clearly expressed during a referendum (can do that). If we lose in a referendum, we (will) stop the agitation for Biafra the same day.”

In August 2022, when the group was accused by a Fulani group, Miyetti Allah, of backing Mr Obi’s presidential bid, Mr Powerful responded: “IPOB is not interested in Igbo president or a Nigeria president from Biafra extraction. The Igbo people rallying behind Peter Obi are not IPOB members because IPOB doesn’t want the contraption called Nigeria to continue to exist and we must break away from Nigeria enterprise irrespective of whether Peter Obi or anyone from the Biafran geographic space is contesting in the Nigerian farce of an election.”

Again, some gunmen said to be part of the Biafra agitation in the South-east, have been attacking and killing officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), maintaining that there would be no election in the region in 2023.

The hoodlums, in a viral video clip, threatened to disrupt elections in the region if a referendum was not held by the government.

While the government may work hard to ensure that the 2023 general elections are held in the region, the threats and attacks by the pro-Biafran gunmen against INEC officials, indicate that they are not in support of Mr Obi’s presidency bid and are not swayed by his prospect of victory at the poll.

What residents say

Many residents who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES corroborated IPOB’s position that Mr Obi’s presidency cannot end the agitation for Biafra in the South East.

However, they conceded that the LP candidate’s victory at the poll may douse the agitation as it would give the region a feeling of belonging to the Nigerian project.

“Peter Obi’s election is quite different from the agitation (for Biafra). On that (election) day, I will go and vote, but agitation continues,” said Augustus Ike, a resident of Enugu State.

This also implies that Mr Obi’s defeat at the 2023 poll could intensify the Biafra agitation in the South-east, given the widespread belief among residents of the region that only rigging can stop him.

His defeat will thus be interpreted by many residents as part of the suspected conspiracy to deny the South-east the presidency.

Likely reason for insistence on Biafra

Observers highlight a major reason why the Biafra agitation will continue even if Mr Obi wins the presidential election.

“The feeling of marginalization (of South-east) over the years has created the feeling among the youths, particularly those who didn’t witness the civil war, that there is no way, a Southeasterner will get a fair treatment under the structure called Nigeria,” Onyebuchi Ezeani, a professor of political science, told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Ezeani, who lectures at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, stressed that IPOB’s insistence on Biafra must have been informed by the group’s belief that “even if Peter Obi wins, he will just be a mere stooge in the hands of those who have been putting up the posture of being owners of Nigeria.”

The political scientist said the separatists believe that Mr Obi’s presidency can only last for two terms of eight years at most, after which the “injustice (against the South-east) will continue.”

“Their position is that the Nigerian state, as it is considered today, does not and will never serve the interest of Igbos. That’s why they have continued to show no interest in any Igbo man who is contesting for any political position in Nigeria.”

BIAFRA NEWS : We’ve no plans to disrupt election in Igboland – IPOB

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said that it has no plan to disrupt election in Igboland in 2023.

The media and publicity secretary of the group, Emma Powerful, in a press statement to DAILY POST, said there is no truth in any information circulating on alleged plans to disrupt election in 2023 in Igboland.

The group rather accused the federal government of masterminding insecurity in the South East, with the hope of causing fear and accusing IPOB of their deeds.

A recent video of a breakaway member of IPOB, Mr Simon Ekpa recently surfaced on the internet, where he said the group would not let any election hold in Biafraland.

But in a press release on behalf of IPOB, Powerful said: “The IPOB leadership has for umpteenth time stated unequivocally that part of our modus operandi in our agitation for freedom has never been, is not and will not be violent agitation.

“This explains our consistent demand for the UN to organise a Referendum in the Biafran territory for the Biafran people to determine their destiny. To this effect, IPOB is neither contemplating nor will it encouraged or sponsor anyone or group to disrupt Nigeria shambolic selection process called election.

“IPOB has constantly made it public that we have no interest in and cannot legitimise the aberration they call election in Nigeria. We are a focused, determined and disciplined freedom fighting movement not political thugs and IPOB is devoted to the cause of liberating our people from subjugation and from modern day slavery and Neo-colonialism and will not allow ourselves to be distracted from this very objective.”

The group continued that: “IPOB is not interested and will never involve ourselves in any Nigeria fraudulent pre-election or post-election issues. Our job is to open the eyes of the blinds by the gospel of truth which our leader has delivered already.

“Whoever that is sponsoring any group or gang tagging them IPOB is on his/her own. For those who are hard of hearing, IPOB is one indivisible family under one central command and leadership.

“If in the future IPOB leadership decides to make further statement on the upcoming Nigeria selection process called election, we shall make such statement through our official channels.”

BIAFRA NEWS : Gunmen hide under Biafra agitation to kill in South-east – Army

 

The Nigerian army says the gunmen terrorising residents of the South-east hide under the cloak of Biafra agitation to commit crimes in the region.

The new General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Umar Musa, stated this on Friday when he visited Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State at the Government House, Awka.

This was contained in a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Christian Aburime.

Mr Musa, a major-general, took over from Taoreed Lagbaja, also a major-general, who is now the GOC, 1 Mechanised Division, Kaduna.

The new 82 Division GOC whose division superintends over Mr Soludo’s Anambra, visited to inform the governor of his assumption of duty.

Mr Musa, recently, has also visited Governors Okezie Ikpeazu and Hope Uzodinma of Abia and Imo States respectively.

The GOC will work with the state governors in the South-east which is under the division on security. This explains his recent visits to the governors in the region.

He commended Mr Soludo for his assistance to the security agencies in their battle against gunmen operating in the state.

The GOC said the army was aware of the security situation in the South-east and promised to partner with the governor and other governors in the region to fight the situatio

BIAFRA NEWS : Nnamdi Kanu, You lack capacity to stop Biafra agitation – IPOB attacks Atiku

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Saturday, declared that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, lacks the capacity to stop the Biafra agitation.

IPOB warned Atiku to stop using the agitation for Biafra champion by its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, for his presidential campaign.

The group issued the warning while criticizing Atiku over a statement credited to him that he would stop Biafra’s agitation if elected President in 2023.

In a statement signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, IPOB insisted that the only solution to Biafra’s agitation was a referendum.

The statement reads: “The attention of global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the great and indefatigable liberator Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu KANU was drawn to the laughable and disgraceful statement credited to the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at Enugu State yesterday the 27th day of September 2022, where he was ranting how he would stop Biafra agitation if he becomes the President of the zoo.

“Those deluded South East politicians around Atiku Abubakar should warn him to stop using Biafra agitation championed by our great leader, Nnamdi KANU and IPOB for his useless political campaigns.

“Biafra Independence movement struggle being championed by IPOB is beyond the zoo’s local politics. IPOB being the largest liberation movement in the world has a crop of intellectuals in her leadership doing great works and are unstoppable by the criminal Nigeria politicians.

“Atiku Abubakar and his corrupt political gang must know that we allowed them to Enugu State does not mean we don’t know what to do to stop them from entering Enugu State ever again. As much as we are a civilized movement, we don’t want to be used for corrupt election campaigns or we will forced them to stop their campaigns in our territories.

“Atiku Abubakar you can do anything to please your gullible followers but you cannot stop Biafra agitation championed by Kanu and IPOB members worldwide. The only remedy to this current

BIAFRA NEWS : Nigerian separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu pleads not guilty to terrorism and treason

 

The Nigerian separatist Nnamdi Kanu has pleaded not guilty to charges of terrorism and treason levelled against him by the authorities.

Kanus presence in court on Thursday was the first time he had been seen in public since he was repatriated from abroad in June.

One of his Lawyers Ifeanyi Ejiofo, say. "He took plea to the seven-count charge today, and the hearing on the application, challenging the competence, urging the court to dismiss the seven-count charge and acquit our client and discharge him is coming up on 10 November 2021, so on that day we are going to go deep into the substance of the charge."

Coupled with the terrorism and treason, the 53 year old is also facing charges of running an illegal company and publishing defamatory material, which appears to relate to comments he made about President Muhammadu Buhari.

Present at the court surrounding was a huge crowd who were there to support him.

However, Dozens of heavily armed police, and Nigerian soldiers were deployed all around the federal high court to prevent any form of violence.

Journalists were barred from entering the premises

Separatist movements in Nigeria are deemed sensitive, after a unilateral declaration of independence in 1967 in Biafra sparked a brutal 30-month civil war.

More than one million people died, most of them Igbos, from the impact of conflict, hunger and disease.

BIAFRA NEWS : Nnamdi Kanu's Case In Appeal Court Begins As Ozekhome Leads Legal Team

 

The judge, in a ruling, had held that the removed charges did not disclose any offence against the defendant.

 

Kanu’s lawyers are expected to be spearheaded by Ejiofor, who stated this in statement on Monday night, said Mike Ozekhome, SAN, will lead the team as usual.

The Appeal Court, Abuja Division, is set to hear the appeal of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The team of lawyers has also arrived in the court, according to the BBC, and they are led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome.

SaharaReporters had reported that Justice Binta Nyako of Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, April 8, struck out eight of the 15 count charges against the Kanu.

The judge, in a ruling, had held that the removed charges did not disclose any offence against the defendant.

While ruling on the preliminary objection seeking to quash the charges, the judge said counts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14 had not disclosed any offence against the defendant (Kanu).

The charges that were struck out below are as follows: “Count 6: Made broadcasts to attack officers of the Nigeria Police Force; Count 7: Made broadcasts in which he incited members of the public to hunt and attack officers of the Nigerian Police Force.  

Nyako had said that counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 15 showed some allegations, which the defendant had to answer. 

The application, premised on 34 grounds and supported by a 36-paragraph affidavit, is also seeking an order acquitting and discharging Kanu.

Ozekhome adopted his application and asked the court to strike out the entire charge.

He also said according to the provisions of the federal high court act, a prosecutor is expected to give exact details of a location where an offence is committed.

“You are accusing Kanu of making some broadcast. You didn’t say where these broadcasts were made. Were they made in the spirit world, made in the air or under the ground?” Ozekhome asked.

He said his application seeks the “quashing, striking out and dismissing of the 15-count amended charge” for being “incompetent and denying the court of jurisdiction to entertain the suit.”

However, these seven counts are now the subject of the Appeal Court hearing today. 

Kanu through his lead Counsels Chief Mike Ozekhome, (SAN) who appealed the decision of the Federal High Court, had described the seven remaining charges as “defective and baseless”.

“Count 10: Incited members of the public to destroy public facilities. Count 11: Threatened members of the public not to come out on 31st May, 2021. Count 12: Made broadcasts with the intention to incite members of the public to stage a violent revolution in furtherance of acts of terrorism. Count 14: Directed members of the public to destroy the public transport system in Lagos, resulting in major economic loss to the governor.”

“Court 8: Made broadcasts in which he directed members of the IPOB to manufacture bombs; Court 9: Made broadcasts on diverse dates in furtherance of terrorism against the Nigeria state and with intent to destabilise the fundamental political and economic structures of Nigeria, incited members of the public to stop the Anambra governorship election.