Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Prince Emmanuel Kanu, younger brother to the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has warned politicians to stop tarnishing the image of IPOB with the governorship election petitions tribunal judgment in the state.
Kanu was reacting to a viral video that Gov Alex Otti is allegedly plotting to use IPOB members to deal with the tribunal judgment in the eventuality of an unfavourable judgment as the tribunal rules on Friday.
He described the allegation that the Governor is sponsoring IPOB as “total nonsense and laughable,” warning peddlers of the unfounded narrative to leave the pro-Biafra group out of Nigeria’s dirty politics.
“Desperate and mischievous politicians should stop using the name of IPOB to score cheap political goal,” he fumed.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, had also denied that the State is allegedly hobnobbing with IPOB, dismissing the allegation as “satanic blackmail.”
He demanded immediate arrest of the masterminds of the unfounded allegations for interrogations.
Otti’s aide accused them of instigating anxiety and panic in the state ahead of the tribunal judgment.
The allegations, according to him, are simply part of the ploy by the masterminds to cause confusion and de-market the State Government.
The younger Kanu said that IPOB’s major concern was how to secure freedom for its “illegally detained Leader and organise referendum for Biafra,” warning politicians to settle their differences without dragging IPOB into it.
Prince Kanu said his brother had become a brand which attention seekers strive to clinch on for relevance.
“What they are doing is out of desperation. If they have problem of leadership in the state, they should go and sort it out, they should stop dragging IPOB into their hopelessness so to speak.
“Those who sponsored the press conference must have ulterior motive; their intention would have been to rubbish Otti, but if Otti has won election, he has won election and there’s nothing anybody can do about it, but they should not bring IPOB into this issue.
“For what reason will IPOB attack any judge for doing his work? They should stop using IPOB’s name to score cheap political goal.
“Those saying Otti was sponsoring IPOB to cause trouble in the state, Which IPOB? What prove do they have to that?
“Over the years, IPOB has not been interested in their election, we don’t meddle into elections. Our target is referendum and the freeing of Kanu and stop the flouting of court orders; that’s all.”
Kanu’s brother challenged politicians seeking relevance to rather channel their energy towards security freedom for the IPOB Leader instead of dropping his name to get undue attention.
“Nnamdi Kanu is currently in detention on civil ground, not even on criminal ground, so, I was thinking the group would have been fair enough to speak about this matter that has dragged this country to the mud all the time and not to be talking about frivolities,” the family said.
