The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned the alleged silence of South East governors, traditional rulers and other prominent political leaders following the recent arrest, detention and subsequent release of 112 women protesters in Owerri.
Recall that 112 women were penultimate Friday arrested in Owerri, Imo State for embarking on a peaceful protest demanding the whereabouts of Leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
In a Saturday statement by IPOB spokesman, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group said that the leaders’ silence had confirmed what it said about Igboland being a “conquered and occupied territory”.
IPOB said Igbo leaders undignified silence over the matter showed that they were ready to sell out their own people to please their northern paymasters.
In the same vein, IPOB warned the President General of apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, against attempting to claim credit for Friday’s release of the women.
It accused Nwodo of releasing a ” hypocritical” statement after the release of the women despite allegedly gloating over their arrest.
Also, the group attacked Imo Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha over the arrest and detention of the women, saying the governor had questions to answer over the incident.
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The statement read in part, “The attempt by Nnia Nwodo to endear himself to the wider public through his latest hypocritical press statement, has failed woefully. If the aim is to milk the goodwill of our people still basking in the euphoria of the release of our mothers who were illegally abducted, shamefully detained and humiliated by the Nigerian state, he has failed woefully.
“Where was Nwodo the day our mothers and grand mothers were humiliating corralled into a stinking prison by a northern Police Commissioner working on the orders of Governor Okorocha? Why didn’t he personally issue a statement? He didn’t because he was gloating that our mothers will suffer in detention as a way of getting back at IPOB. Those he spoke to told IPOB his exact words.
“His belated statement, issued earlier today, was too little, too late and will not absolve him of his role in the ongoing persecution, murder and proscription of IPOB.
“When well meaning people all over the world, including Oby Ezekwesili, a certain northern governor and presidential aspirant, were busy condemning the atrocious detention of innocent Igbo mothers, Nwodo and all Igbo governors maintained their usual slavish silence for fear of offending their northern masters.
“Even our own Ike Ekweremadu never uttered a word either, and his chieftaincy title is Ikeoha, which means the warrior of the people, in this case he failed woefully.
“We the Indigenous People of Biafra Worldwide reaffirm our previous stance that the silence of South East governors, Ohaneze leadership, Igbo politicians and front line traditional rulers, in the face of such overwhelming humiliation of an entire race, is confirmation that Biafraland in general and Igboland in particular is a conquered and occupied territory, superintended by a cowardly class of traitors answerable to Fulani caliphate.
“For the information of these men who claim to be Igbo leaders, the likes of Nwodo’s and the Okorocha’s the arrest of our mothers was illegal,therefore, the idea of sounding magnanimous in press statements is downright cowardice, IPOB always win every court case against Nigeria, hence no single conviction has ever been secured against us till date and they never will.”
“When you cheer your oppressors, as Ohaneze leadership, Igbo governors and politicians seem to enjoy doing anytime IPOB family members are detained illegally, you forfeit every authority to speak on behalf of the people because IPOB is the people and people is IPOB.
“The leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo and their fellow collaborators never uttered a word when our mothers were abducted, tortured, humiliated and spat on by the Nigerian Police. They are now glibly mouthing their usual nonsense to deceive the gullible and shore up their battered image.
“We remind the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo that we have not forgotten the massacre at Afaraukwu on 14 September 2017. We also wish to remind them that it was Igbo governors that proscribed IPOB first, not Aso Rock, as they would like to have the people believe.
“Was it not the same Nwodo led group that stood on the steps of Enugu Government House alongside Igbo governors to proscribe IPOB at the same time Buratai’s soldiers were busy killing innocent youths inside Nnamdi Kanu’s compound?
“Terrorist tag against IPOB came after Igbo governors and Ohaneze Ndigbo first proscribed the movement. We are not unaware that it was Ohaneze leadership that appealed to the commander of 82 Division Enugu to launch Operation Python Dance. It is in the open that same Ohaneze leadership and collaborators that are responsible again for the impending Operation Python Dance 3.
“It is instructive that Nnia Nwodo admitted that northern governors protected treasonous Arewa Youths. Compare that to the treatment of IPOB by Igbo governors and understand that Igboland has been sold to the north.
“We especially commend Amnesty International, Intersociety, World Jewish Council, SERAP, social media activists, commentators, men and women of goodwill that stood up to defend the constitutional right to freedom of assembly.
“Shame on all Igbo governors, politicians and traditional rulers that were so terrified of the caliphate they couldn’t defend their own mothers. Only now, after our mothers has been released have they found their voice.”