The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a stern warning to Igbo politicians and leaders, urging them to desist from leveraging the name of their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, for personal political advantages. The pro-Biafran movement emphasized that Kanu’s detention is not tied to Nigeria’s political dynamics but is a direct result of his unyielding efforts to secure freedom for Biafra and the restoration of the Biafran nation.
In a press release on Monday, IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, expressed concern over the increasing trend among certain Igbo politicians to exploit Kanu’s plight for their own political agendas. The group condemned what it described as the unjust persecution and illegal incarceration of Kanu, stating that it has observed how some politicians are using these circumstances to further their political ambitions.
Powerful accused some Igbo leaders of secretly collaborating with the Federal Government to ensure Kanu remains in solitary confinement under the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). According to IPOB, these leaders fear that Kanu’s release would disrupt their political standing in the South-East.
The statement read in part: “We have noticed how some sycophants in Abuja try to bolster their dwindling political influence in the South-East by taking undue credit for IPOB’s matters. We are closely monitoring their actions. We advise these individuals to stop basking in the glory of IPOB’s achievements, or we will have no choice but to expose them publicly.
“On the other hand, we commend those genuine and patriotic Igbo politicians who are truly working towards the release of Nnamdi Kanu. We encourage them to keep up their efforts. We are documenting the actions of every Igbo leader and politician in relation to IPOB, and in due time, they will all receive what they deserve, whether good or bad.”
IPOB further asserted that as long as Kanu remains in detention, Nigeria’s economy and security will continue to deteriorate. The group warned that those using Kanu’s detention to further their political interests will eventually be disappointed and will witness how IPOB will disrupt the political ambitions of those in the South-East.
The group also took the opportunity to praise the people of Ndigbo for not participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests, suggesting that their involvement could have led to violent repercussions against Igbo communities by the Federal Government.
“We want to make it clear that IPOB has full control over the South-East. We commend Ndigbo for adhering to IPOB’s leadership by not participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria. Despite the severe marginalization and ostracization of Ndigbo politically and economically, we have developed a strong resilience through years of persecution in Nigeria.
“If Ndigbo had joined the protests, the Federal Government, driven by ethnic bias, would have deployed troops to decimate Igbo land and kill numerous civilians. IPOB is committed to the safety of our people as we continue our pursuit of Biafra’s freedom,” the statement continued.
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The group further urged Ndigbo to be cautious of those attempting to use Kanu’s name to advance their selfish political interests.
“Some of the recent social media posts about visiting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in detention and working for his release are nothing more than political grandstanding. IPOB does not associate with many of these individuals until Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is released from his illegal detention by the DSS in Abuja.
“To those exploiting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s suffering for political gain, we warn you to stop, or IPOB will publicly call you out and work to thwart your political ambitions in the South-East. Ndigbo must understand that as long as Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains illegally detained, our people will remain politically sidelined in Nigeria,” the statement concluded.
It has been previously reported that Nnamdi Kanu has spent over 1,142 days in DSS detention. Kanu, who was arrested on June 27, 2021, in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria, faces charges including terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement of violence through his platform, Radio Biafra.
