The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi
Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday, disclosed that the Federal Government offered him Biafra Republic while
in Prison with only the five South East States as the component parts but he
rejected it. According to him, he rejected it because that did not constitute
the complete Biafra, saying that he told them that he wanted a Biafra with
Rivers and Benue States inclusive. The IPOB leader also claimed that he was
offered an oil block and mansion in Dubai aimed at making him to abandon the
cause but that he rejected them and insisted on the actualization of Biafra.
Kanu said those things were Greek gifts to buy him over and
maintained that he has no price other than to actualize the restoration of
Biafra Republic and liberate the Igbo. “They gave me Biafra in prison with only
the five Igbo states; I said no, I want Benue and Rivers”, Kanu said, pointing
out that “Biafra is coming, there is nothing to stop it”. Also yesterday,
Anambra Governor, Chief Willie Obiano
rubbished the statement of IPOB that the November 18 gubernatorial
election in the state would not hold. Speaking at the erosion site in Odume
Obosi Layout in Idemili North Local Government , Obiano said IPOB does not have the interest of the people they
claim to be fighting for at heart. This is even as some former state
governors raised concerns over
agitations by separatist movements in the country. Knocks Igbo leaders Kanu,
who spoke when leaders of Igbo Civil Society Coalition led by Prof. Obasi Igwe
paid him a solidarity visit at his Umuahia home, also gave knocks to Igbo
elites for their anti-Biafra activities, saying that they have no interest in
the Igbo masses. He lambasted Igbo elites who he said are bent on scuttling the
Biafran agitation, saying they were doing so for their selfish interest and
challenged them to show the Igbo masses what they have been able to do for them
since their romance with Nigerian Government. He said they would not succeed.
Kanu lamented the deplorable condition of roads in Igbo land and general lack
of social amenities and wondered what the elites have been doing in Abuja other
to fight for their self interests. He further dismissed Igbo elites whom he
said had thought he could be bought over, saying he has no price tag. “They
can’t buy us with money. If I can turn down oil block, turn down mansions in
Dubai, what can they offer us? All the roads in Biafra land are in deplorable
condition, yet we have elites who are just interested in their pockets. “All
the roads in Biafra are bad. Apart from Okpara (late Michael Okpara), Mbonu
Ojike and Sam Mbakwe, I have not seen any elite in Igbo land. Let them show us
what they have done, no roads, no water, nothing. Because they are in Abuja,
they are now elites, let them show us what they have done for the people as
elites. “They said everything has price, I told them that Nnamdi Kanu has no
price. All of you here know my wife, I sacrificed her for two years; so what
can they offer me. “Self actualization is not war. We are not for war. We are
not talking of war but self actualization. Self determination is not war. Any
elite that interprets self determination to be war does not understand English.
“Biafra is coming; there is nothing that can stop it, no matter the level of
intimidation and blackmail. Some people are running around, saying why must it
be Nnamdi Kanu, why not me. I am not an elite, I was born to restore Biafra. We
are not interested in any violence, self actualization is not violence”, Kanu
said. Adding to the IPOB leader’s statement, Media and Publicity Secretary for
IPOB, Emma Powerful said Kanu’s position has always been clear. “Our leader
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu had discussion with government in prison and he rejected every offer and demanded a
referendum in all the states in South East and South South, including those of
our brothers and sisters living in some parts of Benue, Edo and Kogi States.
Federal Government should fix a particular date for the people to decide where
they want to be. We cannot afford to abandon those in Igbanke, Igala, Idoma and
Igede because they are Biafrans unless they decide otherwise. “To join or be
part of Biafra is not by force but through referendum, we ascertain who wants
to be part of Biafra or not.” In his remarks, the leader of the delegation,
Prof. Obasi Igwe commended Kanu and IPOB for their non-violence approach to the
agitation and urged him to maintain that approach. He said their aim of
visiting him was to encourage him and urge him to ensure that the Igbos have
one voice for peace and prosperity of Igbo nation, the entire Eastern region,
southern region as well as the middle belt. In an interview, Prof. Igwe
insisted on non-violence approach to the issue, and called for appropriate
sanctions for the Arewa youths who gave the Igbo quit notice. Obiano replies
IPOB In his reaction to IPOB’s statement on Anambra election, the visibly angry
Governor Obiano said that “whoever that says there will be no election in the
state and the South East in general is not carrying the interest
of the people at heart and wants the thing that happened during the last
census in which our people were not counted to happen again. “We will not allow
what happen during the last census where our people were not counted to repeat
itself. Due to MASSOB activities, our people were not counted and it affected
the entire South east adversely. It will not happen again.We are still
suffering it today because we were counted less than what we are. “People are
free to vote the candidates of their choice. You can see that in Anambra state
today, people now sleep with their two eyes closed”. He urged the people to
vote for him come Nov 18th for
continuity. “We are not against our brothers in IPOB and MASSOB who are
agitating for Biafra restoration, but they must apply caution and ensure that
whatever they are doing are within the law. Election must hold in Anambra State
and South East at the appointed time, nobody can stop elections in any part of
South East.” Ex-govs call for calm over separatist agitations Members of the
Forum of Former Governors, FFG, class of 1999,
said they were particularly worried by the call of the coalition of
Northern Youths for Igbos to vacate the
north within three months. The Forum also called on governors of the south-east
region to engage the agitators and diffuse the threats by the Indigenous People
of Nigeria, IPOB in the region. In a statement signed by Lucky Igbinedion and
Niyi Adebayo, the forum’s chairman and secretary respectively, the forum called
for calm. “No sacrifice is too much to avert chaos, prevent any further
incidence of criminality, protect human lives and spare the lives of the
country,” the forum noted. They also urged Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to
convene a joint meeting of the various patrons of the contending groups in
which assurances could be given. “The elders and leaders of thought from both
the South East and the North should jointly meet to state a common position; we
further recommend that traditional rulers from the two areas should do same,”
the ex-governors said. The meeting of the past governors was attended by Obong
Victor Attah, James Ibori and Isa Yuguda, among others. If restructuring fails,
we’ go for referendum— Ohanaeze But reacting through its National Deputy
Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo said its position on restructuring Nigeria
is clear. “We don’t are not talking about
IPOB. Our position has been clear all these while. Nigeria needs restructuring now. But
if restructuring fails, then we will talk about referendum. We have realised
that many people have been saying many things and some are claiming to be
Ohanaeze. But our position is very clear. Restructure Nigeria now or deal with
referendum.” Presidency sources however would not react to Nnamdi Kanu’s claims when Vanguard contacted them yesterday
, saying they don’t want to dignify the IPOB leader with a reaction over his claims.
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