■ South East govs, pro-Biafra groups must dialogue –Nzuko Umunna

From Magnus Eze, Enugu and Stanley Uzoaru,Owerri

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday, said it was open for truce if the new Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo kept to his words by paving way for peace without endangering any of their members.

This is as a leading Igbo Think-Tank, Nzuko Umunna blamed the frosty relationship between the South East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) and IPOB for the increasing wave of crisis in the region.

Responding to a call by Soludo on IPOB/ESN to sheathe their swords during his inaugural speech at Awka, the state capital on Thursday, the pro-Biafra group urged Soludo not to endanger or spill innocent Igbo blood during his tenure.

In a statement by spokesman of the group, Emma Powerful, he advised Soludo not to toe the line of his predecessors whom he claimed disrespected and betrayed so many innocent youths from the South East leading to extra-judicial killings and wanton destruction of their homes.

He said: “We wish to assure South East and South South governors that IPOB members are human beings and we don’t have plans to suffer our people but any of them who decide to approach us with harsh manner will receive us with harsh manner.”

Powerful assured Soludo that as long as he kept to his promise, IPOB will never fight him or let him down.

He asserted that IPOB would not accept or succumb to any threats or humiliation, urging Soludo to do away with politicians who would like to advise him to kill IPOB members in Anambra State.

“We were here when he came and we would be here when he would be leaving. His predecessor, former governor Willie Obiano allowed himself to be used by Fulani people and allowed them to kill his people at Nkpor in 2016 during our annual remembrance of our fallen heroes and heroines who paid the ultimate price for our freedom between 1967 and 1970. We won’t accept such to happen again with our members and citizens of Biafra nation.

“IPOB is a peaceful movement only seeking freedom of their people and nothing will make us to stop unless they give us a date for referendum to ascertain where everybody wants to belong, either in Nigeria or elsewhere.

“We are ready to work with any government who wishes to give our people peace. If you dare us, you will regret it. We are peaceful and cannot jeopardise his government.”

Nzuko Umunna said Soludo’s call was not only timely but very apposite, calling that the faceoff between the South East Governors and the IPOB/ESN be resolved on a roundtable and as soon as possible, in the interest of peace and security in the zone.

The group noted that renegades, mischief-makers, external operators, sundry troublemakers, and other who were bent on causing serious security concerns in the South East had capitalized on the coldness between the SEGF and the IPOB/ESN to launch persistent assaults on the security of the zone while conveniently letting IPOB/ESN take the flack.

Executive Secretary of Nzuko Umunna, Ngozi Odumuko, in a statement said: “Reportedly over 5000 Igbo youths are languishing in various detention facilities across the nation without any authorizing court orders and without any formal charges except the vague and omnibus one of being suspected to be a member of IPOB/ESN. Many were reportedly taken from their homes or business premises and have been languishing in detention without even a chance of having a day in court.

“This call for a dialogue will pave the way for resolving a whole lot of issues. The innocent ones will be identified and saved from languishing in detention. The genuine self-determination groups will be identified and through dialogue properly and gainfully redirected; the renegades, mischief makers, purveyors of heinous acts of arson and brigandage, and their ilk would be fully identified and dealt with decisively so that peace and security will return to the South East zone.

“We fully identify with this call and will do our quota, if needed, to see to the fruition of this noble process. We urge the other governors in the South East to immediately identify with and adopt this call as their general position.”

Datikwerreboi:
Meaning Ipob terrorists accepted finally to be behind the attacks they blamed on DSS, interesting.The thing there is that Ipob have outlived it's usefulness and already done it's worse in the region. They have nothing else in stock

ambu2:
IPOB will be shocked by the likely result of REFERENDUM if it is done now. Monday Sit-at-home enforcement, unnecessary killings and general high-handedness of IPOB agents have really dealt a blow to its image and erode people's trust. They need to rebuild. #fact

Aufbauh:
IPOB has no friends,Mr. Soludo should be careful of their antics.

samista:
Good, it's a chance for a new beginning with Charlie nwa mgbafor but let them know that IPOB is bigger than Anambra state affair. Let all those leaders in the south east tow the same path of peace like Soludo for the south east to progress. IPOB will never suspend or drop the struggle just because some stupid politicians want to impress their fulani masters by showing them how much they love Nigeria. Furthermore, they must support ESN to continue protecting our people from all external aggression and their Ebube Agu dogs should either complement ESN or get out of the way and let ESN do what it was created for.

jmoore:
I thought the problem was DSS and unknown gunmen.

They are now admitting that IPOB is behind the terrorism.

IPOB remains a terrorist organization.

Wike dealt with IPOB. If he was like southeast governors, sit at home would have been happening in Rivers state.

adekolaelect:
Talking as if their group is no more a Terrorist group ? Which government official they born well to have a round Table negotiation with a declared Terrorist group in Nigeria

adekolaelect:
A comment from a Frustrated Huligant in Terrorist IPOB group.

Esama:
He said: “We wish to assure South East and South South governors that IPOB members are human beings and we don’t have plans to suffer our people but any of them who decide to approach us with harsh manner will receive us with harsh manner.”

I hope Emma powerful is not mad why including ss to your madness you forget that you have 5 states? What's our business with igbos?

samista:

Maybe it's your Igboho and Yoruba nation agitators that are terrorists but IPOB is a peaceful movement for self determination and can never be a terrorist group.

Emergingnation3:
Afonja Muslim... You should rather worry more about skull miners and human organs harvestering terrorist ravaging your region, Who have killed more people than Boko Haram and Bandits put together since their inception..

adekolaelect:
A response from a typical IPOB frustrated Huligant .NO ANY MEANINGFUL GROUP OR GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WILL HAVE ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION WITH A DECLEAR TERRORIST GROUP IN NIGERIA.

samista:

I modify my post: this is just another "we the south south" Yoruba fool account created just three days ago by a Tinubu supporter. Afonja fool, be proud of your tribe and stop disgracing your ancestors on nairaland.

Emergingnation3:
Go and dangle with Bandits that are your friends AB0KI !

Aufbauh:


Ipib are equally bandits & illiterate terrorists.
No wonder you guys are quick to compare them with bandits in the north.

Same mentality you guys have when your corrupt politicians are caught 'leave my thief alone', what about your own thief? So shallow & naive a mentality.

Says typical AB0KI,who are known to be suffering from inferiority complex right from their birth..

It is illusion to compare IPOB global recognized separatist group , with Fulani bandits,the fourth most deadliest terrorist group in the world according to global terrorism index...

I have you ever asked yourself, why is your Fulani government always refered IPOB as a separatist group on international stage, instead of terrorist group.

We understand the parameters by Which unity begging goons like you derived their terrorist tagged on IPOB,cos one man freedom fighter is another man's terrorist.

IPOB remained peaceful and non violence organization which they are known for globally..

ambu2:
IPOB will be shocked by the likely result of REFERENDUM if it is done now. Monday Sit-at-home enforcement, unnecessary killings and general high-handedness of IPOB agents have really dealt a blow to its image and erode people's trust. They need to rebuild. #fact