The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) issued a statement on Friday strongly denying recent reports suggesting that they have established a political wing. The group labeled these claims as falsehoods and urged the public to disregard them, emphasizing that IPOB maintains an apolitical stance.
Emma Powerful, the spokesman for IPOB, clarified that while the organization envisions forming a political wing, this would only occur after the realization of Biafra’s independence. In his statement, Powerful expressed the need to debunk the misinformation circulated by a certain Nwachukwu Emereonye, whom he described as a “faceless political jobber.” He claimed that the narrative was a fabrication orchestrated by the Nigerian government and the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to Powerful, the Directorate of State (DOS) of IPOB, under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wants to assure the public that the claims of a political wing are entirely fictional, a product of someone’s imagination intended to mislead. He stated, “The story is fake and fiction from his imagination, planted by the Nigerian Government and DSS,” urging people to disregard what he termed as “media propaganda.”
Powerful reiterated that IPOB is a nonviolent movement dedicated to the struggle for freedom and independence for Biafra. He emphasized that the group has no interest in participating in what he described as the “fantastically corrupt political selection and system of Nigeria” and firmly stated, “IPOB IS APOLITICAL!” He explained that once the liberation of Biafra is achieved, the organization would then consider establishing a legitimate political wing to facilitate the governance of the Biafran state.
Further, he accused the DSS of attempting to manipulate the situation by promoting a pseudo-political party in the Southeast region, using individuals who lack genuine ties to IPOB. He expressed confidence that IPOB remains firmly rooted in Biafra and is aware of any attempts by DSS agents to impersonate the organization while trying to engage in the existing political framework in Nigeria.
Powerful’s statement also highlighted the primary objective of IPOB: the fight for Biafra’s independence and sovereignty from Nigeria. He stressed that there is no current political wing, nor does IPOB wish to engage with Nigeria’s corrupt political system. He urged both Biafrans and the general public to dismiss any media narratives propagated by the Nigerian government or its affiliates that imply IPOB’s involvement in the political arena.
He concluded by asserting that the only political dialogue IPOB intends to engage in with the Nigerian government pertains to organizing a Biafra referendum. Until such a referendum is officially announced, Powerful urged everyone to treat any publications suggesting that IPOB has formed a political party as mere “junk news” and to consider them as “garbage” that deserves to be discarded.
