IPOB: Why Anyaoku, Ekwueme, Nwabueze, others Should Speak for Biafra

IPOB: Why Anyaoku, Ekwueme, Nwabueze, others Should Speak for Biafra

Following the eye brows raised when it named some personalities to speak on its behalf, the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has clarified its choice of negotiators, saying those named are not IPOB members but eminent persons selected on account of their credibility and forthrightness.

The pro-Biafra group had last week named six eminent persons whom it suggested that a United States congressional delegation should meet to get the facts about the current Biafra agitation.

They are former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze; Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Archbishop Anthony Obinna; human rights activist, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo, and Gen Alex Madiebo (rtd).

But in a statement jointly issued at the weekend by its spokesmen, Emma Mmezu and Dr. Clifford Iroanya, IPOB regretted that “agents of our oppressors and avid enemies of peace and justice have deliberately and mischievously twisted” its choice of the six credible personalities to mean that these great gentlemen have suddenly become IPOB members. This is not so.

“IPOB maintains its position that these visiting delegations ought to endeavour to meet and speak with credible names like Anyaoku, Nwabueze, Ekwueme, and co. That does not in any way translate to any of them suddenly becoming IPOB commanders like one mischievous newspaper terrifying Anyaoku in private unsolicited emails tried to portray,” the statement said

Alluding to Anyaoku’s reported decline to accept speaking on its behalf, IPOB said it has discovered that some journalists were terrifying Anyaoku and others through unsolicited e-mails in which they asked the eminent Igbo personality, “Sir, is it true that you are appointed IPOB commander?.

 “We are aware of the activities of enemies of equity, justice and fairness,” the group said, stressing that contrary to the insinuations of those out to make mischief, Anyaoku and those named along with him as credible persons to speak on the Biafra issue are neither IPOB members nor commanders.

The separatist group insisted it was “convinced that over 90 percent of our people are standing with IPOB today (hence) we dare the Nigerian government to organise a referendum today to ascertain the authenticity of our demand for freedom.”

The group explained that it became necessary for it to name credible persons to speak with any foreign delegation because three weeks ago, the US Consular General visited the South-east on fact finding mission and “surprisingly, he met only with the All Progressives Congress (APC) executive in Enugu and Ohanaeze.

According to IPOB, the two groups misrepresented the reason for its agitation for a free Biafra as they listed “road construction, second Niger Bridge, appointment of more Ndigbo into Buhari's cabinet, among other inconsequential issues as reasons for our agitation for freedom.”