The crisis rocking the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), took a new
turn yesterday as another faction which goes by the name Reformed
Indigenous People of Biafra (RE-IPOB) emerged.
Two days ago, The Rebranded Indigenous People of Biafra (TRIPOB) emerged
and threatened to burn the Biafra flag publicly on October 1
Spokesman for the new group, Ikemba Biafra, disclosed that it has sacked
the IPOB led by the detained Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and
the Chima Philip Effiong Osuji-led TRIPOB, claiming that both groups
no longer have the right to speak for Biafra.
It alleged that Kanu has lost touch with realities of Biafra while TRIPOB has nothing to offer.
While promising to disclose their leader on Monday, August 29, 2016, it
advised all pro-Biafran agitators to remain peaceful. It also warned
security agents to stop molesting Biafra activists.
“Both IPOB and TRIPOB have been sacked; they should no longer speak for
the Biafran people. They are the same outfit and have nothing to offer
Biafra,” the spokesman said. “We warn that if Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB and the
so-called TRIPOB continue their antics, RE-IPOB will be forced to make
public the sponsors of the two groups. RE-IPOB will not accede to the
burning of the Biafran flag as the sacked TRIPOB planned. The Biafran
flag is sacred to Biafrans.”
The statement added, however, that RE-IPOB is open to dialogue if the
Nigerian government is sincere about ending the protracted agitations
for an independent state of Biafra, and warned that the group would not
tolerate any insincerity from the government.
“If the Federal Government is sincere in its dialogue with RE-IPOB, then
the Biafran flag can be exchanged with the Nigerian flag in the
presence of President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Security Adviser,
Director of State Security and the Elders of Biafra. If the dialogue is
fruitful; then a peace treaty and a ‘no victor no vanquished tree’ will
be planted at Gakem where the first shot of the Nigerian Civil war
started and at Amichi, Nnewi where the formal cessation of hostilities
of the war began.”
Meanwhile, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the group is intact,
strong and determined to continue with the struggle for the restoration
of state of Biafra.
In a statement yesterday, he said there was nothing like splinter
groups, alleging that it was the Federal Government and its security
agencies out to deceive the general public.
According to the statement: “The quite amusing effort by the security
agents to create the impression, that their recent laughable creation
called the Reformed IPOB, is a faction of the great, indefatigable IPOB,
it is a confirmation that they have finally run into a cul de sac.
“They have clearly run out of ideas, they are at their wit’s end, their
stubborn refusal to let our people go has landed them in a tight corner,
their attempt to create a sponsored faction is proof, they don’t know
what else to do. We will not dignify their latest attempt with a
response.”
We merely join citizens of the world as they laugh their hearts out.
With this misadventure, federal government and the security agents have
even lost their would be convert.
“They failed in their attempt to use so called MEND and their own
creation, Reformed Avengers to cause any spilt in the Niger Delta
Struggle. Resorting to the same idea here, simply confirms that they are
confused, frustrated and defeated”.
“We wonder what they will do next, as this latest antic will surely pop
like a ballon. The power of truth has set the oppressors running
helter-shelter. As all past leaders frantically troop to the Villa daily
to deliver grave warnings privately, the oppressor defiantly refuses to
do the needful. This last ditch effort to create a false impression of
division amongst our ranks has already failed, like all other
unintelligent antics before it”.
