ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a stern warning to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, urging him to cease using Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s name to advance his political agenda.
The pro-Biafran group accused Kalu of exploiting Kanu’s plight without genuine commitment to securing his release.
Kalu has claimed to be actively working for Kanu’s freedom, but IPOB asserts that his involvement is driven by self-serving political interests rather than a sincere dedication to the Biafran cause.
The IPOB leader has been in Department of State Services detention since 2021, facing charges of terrorism filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
In a statement released on Wednesday, IPOB emphasized that the group has surpassed the stage of political maneuvering, and Kalu’s actions are seen as detrimental to the genuine efforts of IPOB in advancing the Biafran struggle.
The group expressed concern about politicians, particularly from the Igbo community, attempting to undermine IPOB and Kanu while politicians from other regions support their respective agitation groups.
IPOB asserted its vital role in maintaining peace in the South-East during the Christmas season, cautioning Kalu against taking credit for the efforts of the group.
IPOB also called on Kalu to use his influence to ensure President Bola Tinubu does not let Kanu’s health deteriorate in custody.
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The group criticized the Federal Government for refusing to release Kanu despite court orders and urged Kalu to advocate for the obedience of these court orders.
The statement read partly, “Kalu has constantly been on the print and social media claiming of working hard for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“IPOB and Kanu have become a daily song for him, but he does not have any genuine interest in the IPOB struggle nor the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the Federal Government’s persecution and illegal detention.
“It is pathetic that some self-serving Igbo politicians are bent on destroying IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, while other politicians from other zones are empowering their political agitation groups. If not for IPOB, ESN, and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, many South-Eastern villages would have been occupied by terrorists.
“The South-East people and the public should ignore Kalu and Co. They cannot deceive the intelligent men and women in IPOB and Biafrans in general. We know their plans, and they will face the consequences of their actions when the right time comes.
“At this point of our struggle, we are not happy and would not be kind to anyone putting the life of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in danger for whatever reasons. In IPOB, we don’t forget, and we don’t forgive. Benjamin Kalu should be careful about his plans of working against IPOB members, ESN, and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Kalu should stop taking credit for the peace the South-East people experienced during this Christmas season. IPOB and ESN operatives ensured that it was peaceful celebrations in our region during this last Christmas season. IPOB made it open that the criminals should stay off Ndigbo during this Christmas season and not your meeting Benjamin Kalu.
“Muhammadu Buhari’s administration said that the court will decide Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s fate. But after Kanu defeated them in their own court, the same government refused to release him. President Tinubu is following the same line to try him in his own Court but Kalu has remained quiet instead of telling the Federal Government to obey the court orders.”