The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has washed its hands off negotiations, purportedly on-going between Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Aso Rock the Nigerian seat of power, for the release of IPB Leader Nnamdi Kanu on the condition that the group abandons the Biafra struggle.

IPOB in a statement signed by its Spokespersons Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya and Barrister Emma Nmezu said neither it nor Kanu has anything to do with the said negotiations. The statement, e-mailed to News Express from London, reads:

“Biafrans woke up on Friday the 26th of February 2016 to read of claims by Ohanaeze Ndigbo that they (Ohanaeze group) are negotiating with the government of Nigeria on behalf of the Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. This compromised Igbo-only organization went further to claim that they have discussed with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and convinced him on the need to drop the agitation for Biafra restoration especially as Igbos have business interests worth trillions of Naira which are located all over Nigeria, outside Biafraland. In furtherance of their wicked and malicious claims, this money-minded Igbo-only group averred that they are speaking on behalf of members and officials of IPOB. Curiously, this group in the same publication, affirmed their unshakeable belief in the indivisibility and oneness of the British-created country called Nigeria.

“We hereby make it crystal clear that these claims by Ohanaeze are terrible lies from the pit of hell. Ohanaeze is an Igbo-only organization whereas IPOB is about the citizenry of the nation of Biafra. Igbo is a language spoken within certain areas in Biafraland while Biafra is about a nation of people with a common value system and different languages among which is Igbo. In other words, Ohanaeze is group of individuals that came together based on the commonality of the language they speak which is Igbo. On the other hand, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is the Leader of ALL Biafrans and NOT just the Leader of a language-based group such as Ohanaeze. It is also important to note that IPOB has a structure with clearly identified representatives among whom are the under-signed.

“We want to reiterate that those in Ohanaeze claiming they are speaking for or know the mind of the Leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, are either hallucinating from the side effects of hard drugs or they are trying very hard to justify the bags of money they collected (as usual) from Buhari and his murderous agents. If Ohanaeze knew Nnamdi Kanu and his fanatical love for Biafra freedom, they wouldn’t have come out with such disgusting lies! Also, Ohanaeze must know that nobody negotiates for IPOB or for the release of our Leader unless such a person or group of persons are designated officers of IPOB worldwide.

“The Indigenous People of Biafra through the Directorate of State (DOS) have put in place a Legal Team and we are in court and our wish is to expose the fraudulent charge of treasonable felony before the whole world. At the end of this court case, the corrupt and compromised segment of the Nigerian Judiciary will be publicly disgraced. Our march to freedom is unstoppable, unquenchable, unchangeable, unquestionable, and irreversible and this is something Buhari ought to know. We have come to die for Biafra if that is what it will take to be free. Our resolve should NEVER be underestimated. As our Leader Nnamdi Kanu will always say: “Nigeria will kill us, we will kill them but in the end we win.”

Therefore, Ohanaeze’s claims should be consigned to the rubbish bin where they rightly belong!!!”

•Photo shows Nnamdi Kanu.