From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, is a member of the group, contrary to claims by Rabiu Kwankwaso, presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
IPOB, in a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, urged Kwankwaso to worry himself with the rising fame of Obi and as well settle his political differences with him rather than attempting to score cheap political points.
Powerful emphasised that Obi’s ideology is completely different from theirs, maintaining that IPOB is interested in Biafra restoration unlike who he said is interested in bringing change to the economy of Nigeria.
“The Nigerian politicians generally and Kwankwaso, in particular, should desist from linking IPOB with Peter Obi, his political ambition and campaign, Peter Obi is not an IPOB member, never supported our agitation for freedom at any time because he pursues a totally different goal form that of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“We have no interest in the Nigerian morally decadent and fantastically corrupt political system and landscape.
“If Kwankwaso is threatened by Labour party and Peter Obi’s teeming support by the creative and talented but downtrodden, neglected, deceived, deprived, killed (#Endsars) Nigerian youths from even the North which your generation do not have any good intentions for, then he should go forward and settle his differences and stop linking IPOB to their problem.
“Instead of saying the truth that because he is Fulani with the (born to rule mentality) he cannot play the second fiddle to a Southern Christian presidential candidate, he has the temerity to associate our hallowed liberation movement with the shameless murky waters of politics.
“There is therefore nothing anybody can do to change our resolve towards our stated goal which is the restoration of Biafra.
Reacting to alleged activities of IPOB as a terrorist group, Powerful said: “If there is a region to avoid due to criminality with Terrorism it is the Northern Nigeria which sponsors several terrorist groups as joint venture partners, recycles them in the military and ministries.
“Peter Obi is not a member of IPOB and he is neither agitating nor in support of our Self Determination struggle. Why associate him with IPOB’s struggle for freedom. IPOB does not know who Peter Obi is going by our biodata bank. Our demand is our inalienable rights to self-determination and this we seek through a universally recognised and accepted political process called referendum as stipulated by the United Nations Charter,” Powerful stated.