Ipob warns Ohanaeze Ndigbo that it will not back down on its demand for a referendum

SECESSIONIST group the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) has warned members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo demanding restructuring to bury the idea insisting that what is required at the moment is a referendum. on remaining part of Nigeria or not.

Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office on May 29 this year, Ohanaeze has stepped up calls for restructuring as a means of keeping Nigeria together, However, Ipob's leader, the highly controversial Nnamdi Kanu has been campaigning for the recreation of the independent republic of Biafra which broke away from Nigeria between July 1967 and January 1970 during the civil war.

His campaign, which has led to the phenomenal growth of Ipob, has set him at odds with the Nigerian government who him arrested and put on trial for treason. While the case was still pending, Mr Kanu was granted bail in April 2017 on health grounds but skipped his bail after flouting the conditions given to him by the court and fled Nigeria.

In a dramatic development, in June 2021, Mr Kanu was abducted in Kenya and flown to Nigeria, where he has since been arrayed in court in Abuja, with fresh charges added to the pending ones. Former President Buhari's administration went after Mr Kanu aggressively but there is now hope that the Tinubu administration will be more accommodating.

Ohanaeze has been conciliatory in a bid to bro9ker a deal but Ipob said the era of anyone with a red cap claiming to be an elder speaking for Ndigbo is over and gone for good. Ipob spokesman Emma Powerful, added that it is not going back on demands for a referendum to democratically decide whether to remain or exit from Nigeria.

Mr Powerful said: “The attention of the global movement and family of Ipob has been drawn to the unguarded statements credited to one Abuja-based Ohanaeze Ndigbo chieftain, Augustine Amaechi claiming that Ohanaeze Ndigbo wants restructuring not referendum. The few political jobbers in Ohanaeze Ndigbo demanding restructuring should perish the idea as Biafrans want a referendum.

"Ipob members and supporters worldwide represent over 90% of Biafrans. We have made it clear to the federal government and the international community that Biafrans want a referendum to democratically decide to either remain in Nigeria or exit Nigeria. This is our only demand.

"We are not going back on our demand for a UN-supervised referendum in Nigeria for the determination of Biafra Independence. Once the Nigeria government heeds our democratic demand for a Biafra referendum, Nigeria’s major problem will be solved.

“The era of anyone with a redcap claiming to be an elder speaking for Ndigbo is over and gone for good so Abuja politicians must take note and advise themselves properly. The treacherous activities of some Igbo political jobbers surrounded by their urchins have endangered the southeast people and the economic underpinnings of our culture.”