Nigeria: Igbo Elite Team Up With Ipob for Biafra Restoration

Umuahia — With the brazen politics of marginalisation of the South-east zone by the Muhammadu Buhari administration, the Igbo elite are now being drawn into the struggle for Biafra self-determination as championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)

To this end a pan-Igbo elite group, the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) which is a radical group composed of Igbo academics and professionals both home and abroad has reached out to IPOB to streamline their activities for the Biafra restoration.

The IDF had already petitioned the United Nations over the genocidal quit notice by Arewa youths to Igbo living in the North as well as the Igbo hate song composed, recorded and being circulated by anti-Igbo elements in the North. The group was piqued over the "docility and criminal silence" of the federal government in bringing to book those behind the hate speeches and songs against Ndigbo.

At a consultative meeting between the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the leadership of Alaigbo Development Foundation held at Owerri the capital city of Imo State both groups agreed on the need to harmonise their approach in pursuit of Biafra

Speaking at the end of three hours of parley Kanu said that it was a family meeting during which he promised to be keeping the IDF abreast of every development "on what we are doing", adding that the fruitful outcome of the meting "will guide us in our efforts towards restoring Biafra."

The ADF delegation was led by its National President, Professor Uzodinma Nwala, a renowned professor of philosophy, who is committed to the pursuit of the Igbo cause along with his group of like minds.

"I am glad that the elite are coming on board. We are all elite including the carpenter and the mechanic by the road side who have understanding of the times. As long as they can make sense and articulate their view points and channels it towards emancipating our people," he said.

The IPOB leader however pointed out that "elitism is not purely on academics; it has to do with being able to articulate a sense of purpose for a people and pursuing it doggedly."

The South-east Governors had also held meeting with the Biafra leader at Enugu during which Kanu said he had put his demands to the governors for onward transmission to the federal government.

He vowed that he would never betray the Biafra cause as according to him, the quest for Biafra self-determination remain non-negotiable.

The Biafra leader said: "I laid down before the governors what we want from the federal government, and that is the restoration of the republic of Biafra.

"Nothing has changed; our position is still the same. What we want is referendum on Biafra. We have told them what we want, and we cannot compromise that position. So, let them convey same to the Federal Government. No more no less."

Kanu said that he would continue to respect elders but would not yield any to any amount of pressure that would make him drop the quest for Biafra restoration "because that is why I was born."

He encouraged Biafrans all over the world "to remain resolute, determined and focused on the struggle," which according to him would soon be realised.

On the move by the federal government to nullify his bail and re-arrest him Kanu dismissed speculations that he had disappeared from public view to evade going back to detention, saying that he was not afraid of being re-arrested.

"Nigeria should be afraid of me and not me afraid of them," he said, adding, "there is no way a person of my status and position will go under ground. It is not possible. I lead from the front."