A pro-Biafra group,the Biafra Peoples Congress (BPC) has chastisized the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over their recent media attack on S/East Governors, especially the Abia State Governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu.
In a statement signed by BPC National President, Mazi Peter Obisike,in Owerri,Imo State,the
group said the Governors and Igbo leaders deserve honour and commendation for their intervention that saved lives and property, and not a senseless and malicious condemnation.
BPC also stated there is no sense or logic in blaming the military invasion
of the house of the IPOB leader,Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on the Abia State Governor,Ikpeazu, Willie Obiano (Anambra State),Dave Umahi, Rochas Okorocha of Ebonyi, Imo or the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo.
“The statement credited to IPOB’s spokesman, Comrade Emma Powerful is quite unfortunate and the height of mischief and infantile hallucination. For the BPC, the role of these distinguished Igbo leaders in averting more bloody crisis is indeed a
testimony of their astute leadership acumen, considering the number of Igbo and indeed Southerners who would have lost their lives if the deadly Operation Python Dance had continued, continued,”BPC’s statement read in part.
BPC particularly singled the Abia State Governor (Ikpeazu) out for the wisdom he employed to de-escalate the crisis that would have engulfed the entire region.
The group,therefore urged IPOB to denounce the statement and apologize to the Governors and South East leaders whom they are surprisingly disparaging and scandalizing,arguing there is no way they would be held
“responsible for the siege and invasion of the country home of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in Afaraukwu, Ibeku, Umuahia between 10th to 14th September, 2017”,contrary to their baseless allegation.
The group also faulted IPOB’s claim that Governor Ikpeazu,along with those mentioned above,designed and perfected Operation Python Dance and the accompanying killing spree ostensibly to eliminate their leader Nnamdi Kanu since he cannot be bought or compromised.
BPC said,though it condemns the unwarranted military invasion,it cannot agree with IPOB’s unsubstantiated allegations of complicity on the part of the Chief Security officer of the State who even had to cut short his medical trip abroad to arrest the ugly situation.
On the curfew imposed in Aba for security reason,BPC said it was the best tactical decision at that stage of the crisis.The group said the security measure paid off handsomely with the return of peace and normalcy returning just hours after the curfew.
“The issue of imposing a curfew in Aba to allow the military kill Kanu in Umuahia where there was no curfew does not hold waters. This again,is our problem with IPOB imaginary claims. In the first place,the decision to impose curfew in Aba was even a collective security decision which saved the day. How did IPOB forgot that a delegation of Northern Governors and leaders deemed it fit and proper to thank Governors Ikpeazu and Wike of Rivers State for their examplary role at the height of the security challenge in the region”.
Another aspect of IPOB’s statement BPC
countered is the insinuation that South East Governors were envious of Kanu’s rising popularity.Hence their resolve to connive with the Nigerian Army to kill defenceless unarmed Biafrans.
‘As a pro Biafra group,we are agitating for a Biafra nation. That remains our stand.Our resolve is to play according
to international rules of engagement in agitation for self determination. We believe we can achieve this by carrying our leaders along.That’s why for us, we support our Governors and other political leaders.The issue of envying
Biafran leaders is rather far fetched,”
BPC added.
The group recalled that in Abia,where Kanu operated,IPOB never had issue with the Governor or the State Government who are his neighbours.
BPC also noted that the Governor,in the spirit of democracy, didnt at any point of the agitation,clamp down on IPOB, asserting Kanu would have died if not for the Governor.
Relatedly,BPC cautioned IPOB against creating political enemies for Biafra agitators.It said a situation where the group spews lies,blackmail and hate statements would jeopardize the movement for actualization of a sovereign state of Biafra.
“A situation where we alienate pro-Biafra groups from our leaders would be counter productive. Lets work together without violence.Our statesmen got independence without firing a single shot.We advise IPOB to desist from these unfounded allegations against South East Governors and the leadership of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo.It is unacceptable and not the way forward.
With the purported proscription of IPOB by the Federal Government,what the leadership should be concerned with right now is constructive engagement with all Nigerians and the international community. IPOB should stop this blame game and resolve to start a conversation on the agitation for Biafra and other issues that frustrate our peoples aspirations. Blaming the Governors and Chief Nnia Nwodo for the aftermath of “Operation Python Dance” and inciting our people against their legitimate leaders is neither advisable nor strategic.
“Let the truth be said. Nobody needs any form of violence or another bloodshed
in this region that lost over three million lives in a genocidal civil war. That’s the reason we and the entire Southern Nigeria applaud the Governors and the President General of Ohaneze,Chief Nnia Nwodo for their wise and timely intervention when the military struck.
For us at BPC, what our leaders deserve is respect and gratitude, not the propaganda and cheap blackmail which IPOB’s recent press release connotes”.
In the same vain, a pro-Ikpeazu Support Group,Abia Unity Movement (AUM) has warned IPOB to desist from blackmailing the Governor,Dr Okezie Ikpeazu.
AUM was reacting to a statement by IPOB spokesman,Emma Powerful who accused Ikpeazu of personally “bringing Operation Python Dance to the doorstep of Nnamdi Kanu’s home” with a plot to assasinate him. The State Chairman of AUM, Comrade Nicholas Njoku told newsmen Wednesday,November 1,2017 they might drag IPOB to court to defend Ikpeazu’s reputation. AUM was particularly irked by IPOB’s claim they have pictures of the Governor allegedly handling stolen goods from the palace and house of HRM Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. AUM said they wont bother even if IPOB expectedly come up with photoshopped pictures to achieve their devilish purpose.
AUM then urged Abians to ignore IPOB’s lies and half truths against the person and office of the Abia Governor,
Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.
Torrents of condemnation and opprobrium have been trailing IPOB’s recent statement claiming that Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia),Willie Obiano (Anambra),Dave Umahi (Anambra) and Imo’s Rochas Okorocha connived with the Nigeria Army to invade the Afaraukwu,Umuahia house of the Leader of IPOB,Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on September 10 to 14, 2017 with the sole intension of eliminating him.
IPOB, on November 1, received heavier knocks from a sister pan-Biafra group the Biafra Peoples Congress (BPC) and a nascent socio- political group Abia Unity Movement (AUM).
