Following the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to security chiefs to treat the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a group the threatens national security like Boko Haram, the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has asked Buhari to kill the self-determination quest of Biafrans with superior argument, not AK 47.

Kanu, in a chat with journalists at his country home in Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia, faulted Buhari’s resort to strong arms tactics in dealing with burning national issues would never work.

He said the military deployment was a step to brow-beat people to succumb to intimidation.

Kanu argued that it was very wrong for the Nigerian leader to compare IPOB, a peaceful mass movement to Boko Haram, which is an internationally recognised terrorist organisation; adding that the decision by Buhari to unleash Nigeria’s security apparatus on IPOB has further demonstrated his dictatorial tendencies and his determination to enforce national unity on his own terms and those of his people.

“It is the continuation of the Buhari regime’s dictatorial and unwholesomely undemocratic approach to governance. I find it unacceptable, abhorrent and insulting that somebody elected by the people can turn around and dictate to them how he wants them to behave,” the IPOB leader said.

“In this debate for freedom everybody has to be heard. Buhari should defeat me with the superiority of his argument not AK 47,” he said, adding that “those that quickly recourse to violence, hate and intimidation is because they have lost the force of argument,”

Kanu reminded Buhari that he was elected to govern Nigeria and he should therefore face the business of governance “and not to instigate another war”. He advised the Nigeria president to borrow a leaf from former US president, Dwight Eisenhower who was an army commander, fought war and later became American president because he was a democrat at heart.

Nonetheless Kanu insisted that no matter how menacingly President Buhari intends to bare his fangs, such action would in no way diminish the quest for Biafra self-determination,

“We are not afraid because IPOB is a peaceful mass movement, not s violent armed group,” he said.

He argued that no matter how anybody intends to characterise IPOB, there must be a distinction between a non-violent, peaceful mass movement as represented by IPOB and any other group that its activities pose threat to national security.

According to him, the records are there to prove that IPOB has remained a peaceful, non-violent organisation since its formation.

“There is no record of an injury being sustained, people fighting or having any altercation in any of the numerous IPOB gatherings where people converge in their millions to listen to this gospel of the restoration of Biafra. Not one single incident. We are the most disciplined, most well behaved mass movement anywhere on the face of this planet.

“Despite the genocidal killings, despite the arbitrary arrests, illegal detention without trial, we can never be provoked into any armed conflict. We have refused to be provoked to armed rebellion; that is what Buhari is looking for. Buhari wants a war but we won’t oblige him because we are civilised people,” he said.

The Biafra leader explained that Biafra Security Service (BSS) was set up following the threat by the coalition of Arewa youth groups to expel Ndigbo from the Northern states and to curtail the menace of Fulani herdsmen.

“No army was set up. We have a Biafra Security Service to give us intelligence regarding the October 1 quit notice,” he said, adding that there exists in states in the North, the Sharia Police or Hisbah.

He said the outfit enjoys the support and acceptance of majority of the people across the length and breadth of South East and South South, saying that BSS “will take care of this land in terms of its security needs.”

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