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. Read More
