From Steve Oko, Umuahia
The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, has challenged South East Governors, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Igbo political elite to learn from their South West counterparts how to protect their own at the vanguard of the interest of the region.
IPOB which spoke on the heels of the ‘Operation Adetokun’ recently launched by South West Governors, Yoruba Leaders and the Odua Peoples Congress, OPC, berated Igbo leaders for allegedly betraying the pro-Biafra group.
Recall that the special security outfit codenamed Operation Amotekun (leopard) was launched for the defense of South West region against criminals including kidnappers and invading armed herdsmen.
But IPOB accused Igbo leaders of connivance with the federal government in proscribing IPOB, a mere pressure group agitating for the self determination of Biafra.
IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, commended the move which it also described as a vindication of its Leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s earlier call on indigenous Nigerians to form their militia groups for self defense against external aggression, insisting that the current security challenges have overwhelmed the conventional security outfits.
” The inescapable truth remains that Bishop Kukah’s commendable utterances about the Jihadi intent of the present regime in Nigeria and formation of a Yoruba vigilante by OPC are all lines of reasoning and event consistently canvassed and championed by IPOB in the past. The fact remains that Nigeria as presently constituted is the greatest threat to life and peace”.
IPOB likened the operation to Biafra’s Security Services, BSS launched by its Leader shortly before his home was invaded by the security operative in 2017.
The pro -Biafra group lampooned South East governors and Igbo who it alleged connived with the federal government to sabotage and scuttle BSS and proscribe IPOB while ironically applauding the launching of Amotekun.
IPOB said : “The Yoruba decision and effort to launch Operation Amotekun security outfit just like our leader launched BSS in 2017 is most commendable. What we find horribly appalling however is that those who were at the forefront of misrepresenting and condemning our leader for having the vision and foresightedness to challenge Fulani terrorism in Nigeria are today praise singing the introduction of Amotekun.
“Even Ohaneze Ndigbo and South East Governors Forum that actively connived with their Fulani masters to launch a deadly military invasion of Biafraland on the back of the launch of BSS are today openly praising Yoruba leaders for backing OPC’s Amotekun project when they themselves heartlessly sold out IPOB for a pot of porridge.
“Nothwithstanding the barefaced envy and jealousy directed towards IPOB by the Efulefu political class and sections of uninformed talking heads, we IPOB are delighted that we continue to set the pace of radical thinking and social change within and outside Nigeria.
“IPOB wholeheartedly welcome Amotekun and say good morning to those who out of ignorance, poor sense of vision, lack of reasoning and self consuming jealousy fought against the formation of BSS. They should cover their faces in shame if they have any face left after this.
“We believe the time has come for all those who ignorantly questioned the modus operadi of IPOB and the vision of Biafra liberation as boldly preached by our leader to tender an unreserved public apology. History and events have continued to vindicate IPOB and its methods. The time has come for every sensible person and ethnic group to swallow their shame and publicly acknowledge that IPOB is always right.”
The statement challenged Igbo leaders allegedly involved in the proscription of IPOB to rise to the defense of South East amidst the rising security threats by rampaging armed herdsmen.
“Now that South-West Governors and politicians have openly and commendably armed and supported OPC militants to defend Yorubaland isn’t this a clear indication that the black market and thoughtless proscription of IPOB by Fulani government supported by Ohaneze Ndigbo, South-East Governors and Lagos/Abuja politicians only succeeded in making the entire Eastern region a fertile ground for Fulani Jihadi expansionism and impetus for Miyetti Allah terrorism and territorial expasion?
” IPOB remains the one and only movement psychologically designed and primed to defend the entire East against any aggression from Fulani terrorists. This too is an inescapable fact.
“It is about time people acknowledged openly and without shame that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is always right”, the statement said.
