Group says it does not want war, calls for referendum

chika ebuzor

June 27, 2017 8:08 PM

The group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, described the group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu as a peace loving man, who will not resort to violence.

Nnamdi Kanu in Idoma attire

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has debunked reports that it wants to resort to violent means to achieve its struggle for a Biafra nation.

IPOB also blamed ‘enemies’ of the group for misinforming Nigerians and using propaganda to create a wrong impression about its struggle.

According to the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, the Biafra struggle is in-line with international law.

Powerful also described the group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu as a peace loving man who will not resort to violence.

He said “It is fair to assume, going by the utterances of certain corrupt segments of the Nigerian society that most of what IPOB is saying and stands for is lost in translation because anybody with basic understanding of rudimentary English and constitutional law will know that self determination does not mean war and that referendum is not hate speech.

“Again, when badly educated and ill-informed people dabble into a discipline above them, such mistakes are bound to happen.

“We would like to use this opportunity to clarify once again that IPOB is asking for self determination as recognised in both the United Nations charter on the Rights of Indigenous People and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

“Before these Northern unity beggars (sic) threaten us with war that IPOB hasn’t called for, let them spend a bit of their valuable time acquainting themselves with these charters and declarations.

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“The only instrument IPOB has at its disposal is civil disobedience, which is entirely legal. Civil disobedience, it must be understood and be said, has nothing to do with armed conflict.

“Furthermore, people should be advised to study and assimilate the subtleties and nuances of English language before engaging in any public discussion regarding Biafra independence.

“Our leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is a peaceful man that constituted IPOB with peaceful foundation and the sole aim is to liberate his people from humiliation and bondage.”

Nnamdi Kanu recently accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of favouring the North, adding that he was a weak leader.

chika ebuzor