Ipob warns Ndigbo to desist from entering into alliances with northern politicians as elections approach

SECESSIONIST group the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) has cautioned Igbo agitators against entering into political relationships with politicians from northern Nigeria in the run-up to next year's general elections.

In February, Nigeria will go to the polls to elect a president, governors, members of the National Assembly and state legislatures. Under Nigeria's electoral college laws, to win the presidency, a candidate needs to secure at least 25% of the vote in two thirds of the country's 36 states, making cross-ethnic alliances compulsory.

As the elections draw closer, potential presidential candidates from both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have been reaching out to Igbo politicians. Ipob, which has been campaigning for an independent nation that will break away from Nigeria, has warned it members to desist from entering into such alliances as it negates their agitation.

Ipob spokesman Emma Powerful, said those involved in the act should cover their heads in shame as their duplicitous character will never endear them to the oppressor. He also condemned the alleged death and detention of some members of Biafra Independence Movement, during a recent gathering, blaming Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the southeast governors for the development.

Mr Powerful said: “There remains only two constituencies to blame for this and they are Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Igbo governors. Their repeated silence over the slaughter of their own people makes them accomplices.

“Those agitators romancing with Arewa politicians by night, but jump up during the day to shout Biafra must cover their faces in shame. Their duplicitous character will never endear them to the oppressor.

“We are asking the Nigerian government to focus its military hardware and fire power on Fulani terror herdsmen in Benue and other northern terrorist groups active in the northeastern part of Nigeria. The senseless killings of unarmed Biafra agitators must stop because it will only breed more diehard activists that may choose to abandon the non-violence stance of Ipob and one day, violence will surely beget violence if this ongoing anti-Biafra persecution is not stopped.”