The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB has insisted that if there is to be any form of dialogue with the federal government, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu must be present.
In a joint press briefing addressed in Enugu by Edeson Samuel, MASSOB director of information, and Ugwuoke Ibem Ugwuoke, MASSOB Secretary General urged people to ignore any rumours of dialogue.
He said “there is new development; we want to react on the so-called dialogue between Nigeria government and some people who claimed they are representing us.
“We were shocked to learn that some Northern leaders and Senator Godswill Akpabio met and discussed about our agitation.
“These persons that sat in Abuja, even the people from the South-East, we disown them; we don’t know them; before you discus, you must first of all discus with those on the street; we don’t know Akpabio, we don’t know Dozie Ikedife as far as this matter is concerned; Ikedife is not part of what we are doing; he has shown hatred for Nnamdi, so how can he meet with government to discus Nnamdi?
“For the past one month, we have been protesting peacefully over Nnamdi’s release; if Nigerian government is sincere over dialogue, they must meet with the leaders of MASSOB and IPOB.
“It is curious that Akpabio, who disowned us, who said that Akwa Ibom is not part of Biafra, now wants to negotiate on our behalf, this is fraud; we are advising the Nigerian government not to take them serious, we shall continue our peaceful and non violent protest.
“We have two simple demands- release Nnamdi Kanu, give us Biafra; we are not agitating for good roads or infrastructure.
“These people that claim to be Igbo leaders are not in control of the masses, we shall soon demand for a referendum, that’s the next step so that the whole world will know that the people are no longer interested in nigeria.
“Any dialogue with the federal government without Nnamdi Kanu is nonsense; we demand that he should be released and he will lead the dialogue.”