In a statement released yesterday, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) claimed that it had no involvement in the Nigerian elections and accused the federal government of encouraging election violence in the region’s South East in order to intimidate it.
The pro-Biafra group added that it has unmistakably stated that part of its mode of operation in its agitation for freedom does not have and will not be violent agitation for Biafra, and that the Nigerian government is sponsoring insecurity in the South East to disrupt the 2023 elections because their candidate will lose the election.
In a press release headed “IPOB has no business with Nigerian elections and their campaign,” the organization’s media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, said that its lack of interest in the elections in Nigeria explains its persistent call 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 Nigerian government is directly and indirectly, sponsoring election violence in Biafra land, intending 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 organize 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 legitimize 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 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 Nigerian 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.”
