The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a warning to Igbo politicians, urging them to refrain from using the detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, for their own political advantage.
This comes as tensions continue to rise in the South-East region, where many have expressed concerns over the ongoing detention of Kanu, who has been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) in solitary confinement.
Emma Powerful, the spokesperson for IPOB, made it clear in a statement on Monday that the organization is aware of the political maneuvers being made by certain politicians in the region.
He accused them of engaging in mere rhetoric rather than taking meaningful action towards Kanu’s release.
“The noble family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by the great leader Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu wish to warn some of the Igbo-acclaimed politicians and leaders to stop using the name of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for their selfish political gains,” Powerful declared.
He emphasised that Kanu’s detention is not a matter of Nigerian politics but a struggle for the freedom of Biafrans and the restoration of the Biafra nation.
According to Powerful, Kanu’s sacrifice should not be exploited by those looking to advance their political careers.
Kanu, the leader of IPOB, has been a central figure in the Biafran independence movement, which seeks to establish an independent state for the Igbo people in the South-East region of Nigeria.
His arrest and detention have sparked widespread protests and calls for his release, particularly from his supporters and sympathisers across the globe.
Despite the outcry, Powerful noted that many South-East politicians claiming to work towards Kanu’s release are merely using his name to gain political traction.
He dismissed these efforts as “political rhetoric” and urged the public to be wary of such tactics.
“IPOB has nothing to do with many of them until Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is out of the illegal detention in DSS headquarters in Abuja,” he stated, adding that those who continue to exploit Kanu’s situation for their political interests would face public exposure and backlash from IPOB.
The statement also touched on the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, in which IPOB praised the Igbo people for not participating.
Powerful explained that despite the political and economic marginalization faced by the Igbo community, they have developed a resilience that has allowed them to survive decades of persecution.
He argued that if the Igbo had joined the protests, it would have provided the Federal Government with a pretext to send troops into Igbo land, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life.
“IPOB has the interest and safety of our people at heart even as we continue to strategise on Biafra’s freedom,” he said.
