The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has warned a former leader of the youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mr. Okechukwu Isiguzoro, to desist from making utterances capable of tarnishing the national and international image of Ohanaeze as the apex Igbo sociocultural and political group with a tight, well-run administrative set-up devoid of factions, or have the group to contend with.
In a statement yesterday – Tuesday, June 10 – by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB pointed out that “the notion of a ‘factional’ Ohanaeze exists only in the minds of hungry political errand boys doing the bidding of their Abuja slave-masters.”
“These inconsequential elements neither represent the Igbo people nor speak for Ndigbo,” the self-determination group declared.
IPOB frowned at what it called “insulting charades in the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,” assuring that
the group, under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, “categorically dissociates the entire Igbo nation and the Biafra freedom movement from the recent shameful utterances made by one Okechukwu Isiguzoro in the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.”
“We state for the record that Okechukwu Isiguzoro is unknown to the Igbo race as representing any recognised wing or faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Ohanaeze is not factionalised,” IPOB stressed.
The group dscribed as “appalling” the seemingly “coordinated efforts (by those) masquerading as leaders of a non-existent faction to give the impression that the Igbo race is disoriented or lacks cohesion.”
Warning that “this is a calculated insult to our heritage and identity,” IPOB slammed those “masquerading as leaders” for their “woeful ignorance of Igbo history” by claiming that Igboland exists in only seven states of Nigeria”, calling such a claim “an outrageous falsehood”.
“Igbo-speaking people are indigenous to 13 states of this British-created contraption called Nigeria. Any attempt to shrink our ancestral footprint is an unforgivable betrayal,” the pro-Biafra group stressed in the statement by Powerful.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is led by Senator Emmanuel Mbatta and that remains the only recognised and respected leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural body.
“Any individual parading himself as a ‘factional’ leader is not only insulting the Igbo nation, but also daring IPOB with such acts of impunity.”
The Biafra self-determination group equally lampooned a section of the Nigerian media for its hypocrisy in giving “oxygen to these Abuja-sponsored clowns,” wondering why the same media that would not dare suggest a ‘faction’ in Afenifere or the Arewa Consultative Forum (would be only too quick) to publish garbage intended to diminish Ohanaeze.”
“We say to these media houses: any brown envelope you collect to publish such drivel will haunt you,” IPOB charged, explaining that while the group “is a proud promoter of free speech”, it would support only those who “make their comments in their personal capacity or through their own platforms.”
According to the group, “dragging the name of Ohanaeze into every sponsored narrative is cowardly, fraudulent, and unacceptable.”
“We also wish to clarify, once again, that Ohanaeze Ndigbo, whether we agree with them or not, remains the apex body of Ndigbo. IPOB reserves the right to criticise Ohanaeze when they err, but we do not presume to represent them, nor should any other impostor,” IPOB declared.
“Finally, we call on all Biafrans to ignore any call for participation in the June 12-related events. Until Nigeria learns to respect and honour May 30th—our sacred Biafran Remembrance Day—we shall not partake in their selective history or skewed national rituals.”
“This is not just about IPOB. This is about our dignity, our truth, and our right to define who we are,” the pro-Biafra agitation group surmised.
