DESPITE its apology and regrets for disrupting the Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, meeting of Igbo leaders in Enugu recently, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, has threatened to disrupt any meeting of Ohanaeze Ndigbo meant to discuss restructuring of Nigeria, or 2019 election, as it insists that Biafra is non-negotiable.
IPOB in a statement yesterday, blasted Ohanaeze Ndigbo for sabotage, warning that any meeting organised by Igbo leaders on restructuring and one Nigeria will be disrupted.
This is as another pro-Biafra group, Coalition of Biafra Restoration Citizens, declared that its members would actively participate in 2019 election to elect people, who genuinely have the interest of Ndigbo at heart, irrespective of their political affiliations. The group blamed the marginalisation and underdevelopment of Igbo land on selfishness on the part of Igbo leaders, who have had the opportunity to move the region forward, but failed.
The coalition is comprised of three pro-Biafra groups, namely Biafra Independence Organisation, Igbo Revolutionary Movement and Eastern Peoples Renewal.
Our leaders selling us
However, IPOB, in a statement by its spokesman, Emma Powerful in Enugu, said it was not interested in restructuring, Igbo presidency or election in Nigeria, insisting that “the era of selling the collective interest of the masses to the highest bidder has come to an end.”
The statement read in part: “All we want is referendum not restructuring; we want Biafra not Nigeria. We have buried too many people, we have lost too many souls, we are pained by the innocent who are still languishing in illegal detention all over Nigeria and we are enraged by the betrayal of those we call socio-political leaders. Only the total restoration of Biafra will suffice, anything else is mere waste of time.
“We read with disdain the statement credited to an Ohanaeze Ndigbo spokesperson regarding the incident that took place at the Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, event in Enugu recently. What happened at the said event will be nothing compared to what shall become of Ohanaeze Ndigbo should they attempt to convene any public meeting anywhere in Biafraland to discuss restructuring or how to keep Nigeria one.”
We’ll vote in 2019 elections
In their declaration of interest to actively participate in 2019 election to elect people who genuinely have the interest of Ndigbo at heart, irrespective of the political platform of such people, the Coalition of Biafra Restoration Citizens, made up pro-Biafra groups also commended Governors Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia for their efforts to transform their states and pledged their support to them.
As published in Vanguardngr