Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has promised not to boycott the forthcoming general election.
This is as the pro-Biafra movement, has urged Ndigbo and residents of South-East to ignore any purported sit-at-home order on election days.
IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, dissociated itself from any group calling for the boycott of the polls.
It also said that anyone issuing sit-at-home order on election days were criminals collaborating with the enemies to ruin the future of Ndigbo.
IPOB noted that in as much as it had no confidence in Nigeria elections, it had nonetheless, not called for boycott of any poll.
It warned anyone from issuing any sit-at-home order using its name.
Below is a full text of the statement made available to Ikengaonline: “The global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great and indefatigable liberator Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu warns the unknown mushroom group called Pan Nigeria President of Igbo Extraction Coalition (PANPIEC) to desist from linking this noble movement with the state sponsored criminal gang issuing and enforcing sit-at-home orders to blackmail IPOB and ESN.
“IPOB has no plan or intention to order any sit-at-home during the election period. IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has never forcefully obstructed the election process in Nigeria.
“Our interest and focus is the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the date for Biafra referendum for Biafrans to determine their political future in or outside Nigeria.
“We knew that this mushroom group called PANPIEC is among those sponsoring this fake group claiming that they are IPOB issuing and enforcing reckless sit-at-homes in the East. If they are not their sponsors with the Fulani government of Nigeria, why do they keep linking the paid agents of confusion with us even as IPOB has publicly denounced any link with Simon Ekpa and his collaborators.
“It’s on record and in the public domain that IPOB has not called for any sit-at-home during February elections. It’s also obvious that IPOB and ESN do not have any faction or splinter groups.
“IPOB remains peaceful and indivisible under one command for the liberation of Biafra Nation from the damnable Republic called Nigeria.
“We reiterate for the records that, IPOB has not, did not and will not issue any sit-at-home order in February during the elections period.
“We also did not call for any boycott of the upcoming elections yet. Nobody should blame or link IPOB to the statements or actions of government agendist operating in the Eastern Region.
“The focus of IPOB is the release from illegal detention of our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whom Appeal Court and other courts have discharged and acquitted since 13th of October 2022, and Biafra Referendum date.
“Therefore, any group claiming to be IPOB while issuing sit-at-home orders are criminals and state sponsored agents and do not represent IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
