Ipob fires back at Ijaw leader Edwin Clark describing him as a general without an army

SECESSIONIST group the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) has hit back at Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark for warning it to desist from speaking on behalf of the south-south geo-political zone saying he too has no mandate to speak for the people.

Earlier this week, Chief Clark, the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (Pandef), dismissed plans by Ipob to include the south-south geo-political zone in its planned breakaway republic. According to Chief Clark, Ipob is very unrealistic in its quest to get the south-south and southeast geo-political zones out of Nigeria.

“How can Delta be part of Biafra? In what way? Is Biafra older or bigger than Delta? How can Rivers State or Akwa Ibom become part of Biafra? They are dreaming for still thinking about the Eastern Region of those days,” Chief Clark said.

However, Ipob has fired back at him, dismissing Chief Clark as a general without foot soldiers and therefore lacking the authority to speak for the people of the zone. Ipob spokesman Emma Powerful said Chief Clark’s statement was appalling, asking whether he knew that those who own Biafra are those he referred to as south-south or Niger Delta as the case may be.

Mr Powerful said: “How suddenly Edwin Clark has forgotten that it was an Izon man who brought the name Biafra to the table for approval which Ojukwu and his Eastern Consultative Assembly approved without hesitation or debate.  Edwin Clark should know that Ipob, led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, did not force any clan to join Biafra but if his community, clan and tribe refuses to join Biafra through referendum at the right time, they should not blame anybody for their fate in Nigeria.

“By the time Biafra will exit Nigeria through a referendum, any clan in the so-called Niger Delta that refuses to be liberated from the Nigerian bondage should get ready to serve the Fulani as slaves forever. We, however, know that Edwin Clark is not speaking for millions of Niger Delta youths, men and women earnestly yearning for their liberation from the Nigerian bondage.

“He is only speaking for his Fulani slave masters but very soon he will discover that he is a general without foot soldiers.” Meanwhile, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Nnamdi Kanu's lawyer, said that the treason trial of his client will resume on Monday July 26.

Mr Ejiofor added: “We have just received confirmation from the Federal High Court Abuja that the hearing on our client’s case will still go on as earlier scheduled on Monday next week being the 26th day of July 2021. Remember Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the entire legal team in your prayers, thank you all and remain blessed."

Mr Kanu is being tried by Justice Binta Nyako for terrorism, treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and management of an unlawful society. Nigeria's attorney-general Abubakar Malami has said the charges will be amended to include jumping bail and engaging in subversive activities that include inciting violence through television, radio and online broadcasts against Nigeria.