YOUR MEETING WITH IGBO LEADERS IS ‘USELESS’ – IPOB BLASTS OSINBAJO

The indigenous peoples of Biafra, IPOB, condemned the meeting between interim president Yemi Osinbajo and some Igbo leaders of thought, saying it was a "senseless and useless" rally.

Recall that Osinbajo yesterday hosted Igbo leaders in the presidential villa of Abuja.

Issues related to the ultimatum issued by Northern youth that Igbos should leave their region in three months and the struggle for secession by various pro-Biafra groups were discussed.

Reacting to the meeting, IPOB described those who attended the parade as political workers, who do not have the mandate to speak for people from the South East.

The pro-Biafra group also chastised the interim president for allegedly using "inexpensive" resources that could have been intended for use in hosting Igbo leaders.

In a statement by her spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB said the meeting was an "insult to the sensitivity of Biafrans around the world".

The statement reads as follows: "We, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), under the supreme leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to emphasize our unequivocal condemnation of the sneaky and unnecessary collection of some compromised political workers from the major states of Igbo Of Biafraland in Abuja yesterday.

"This meeting, which we understand was convened at the initiative of the Nigerian interim president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, following the highly successful IPOB policy outcome of May 30, 2017.

"With one or two exceptions and with the greatest respect for participants in this Nigeria-sponsored gathering in Abuja, the so-called Southeast delegation does not in any way represent the views of the leadership of IPOB In the world, and can not claim with Degree of sincerity to speak to the masses.

"Therefore, all Professor Osinbajo has managed to achieve this meeting is to waste the limited resources that could have been channeled towards more useful goals. No of those who attended this meeting with Osinbajo gave the order for the people To sit at home on May 30. So we're not in a position to understand the rationale for their invitation to the meeting to discuss something they do not know.

“IPOB viewed the meeting with certain Igbo politicians who are sympathetic to APC as an insult to the sensibilities of Biafrans all over the world, especially the memory of the dead and injured.

The group affirmed the stance of its leader that any discussion with the Nigerian government must include a date for referendum or such discussion is an “exercise in futility.”

The statement added, “Our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has made it abundantly clear that any discussion or dialogue with Nigerian government that doesn’t include an agreement on a referendum date to determine the issue of Biafra once and for all time, is an exercise in futility.

“In this regard, we wish to inform the government of Nigeria that the gathering and deliberations they thought they had yesterday is a complete waste of time and will continue to be until the Federal Government does the needful.

“We note and respect the presence of Chief Nnia Nwodo the Ohaneze Leader and two others at that very meeting, however the rest are nothing to write home about. We do not think that presiding over the distribution of monthly allocation from Abuja qualifies any political office holder to discuss issues pertaining to IPOB and Biafra restoration when the leadership can be directly contacted.

“Since August 2015 that Nigerian Government and her security operatives, especially the Army, Navy, DSS and Police, have been killing and abducting innocent and peaceful IPOB members, none of the governors that attended this meeting in Abuja rose to condemn the brutal and barbaric repression of IPOB peaceful agitation for an independent homeland for Biafrans.

“None of them offered any comment in condemnation of the well documented atrocities despite the existence of overwhelming evidence to substantiate the facts alluded to in the widely received Amnesty Report on the senseless slaughter of IPOB members.

“How can such persons now go to Abuja to discuss issues bothering on the activities of IPOB when they know nothing about the modus operandi of the organisation. Only IPOB can and will discuss issues pertaining to her activities, not compromised politicians.

“From time, we firmly resolved that nobody among the governors or politicians can set an agenda for IPOB except our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The sooner Nigerian Government understands this, the better. Therefore, any meeting without the consent of our leader or those nominated by him in a representative capacity, is a complete waste and unacceptable to IPOB.”