The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Wednesday said southeast leaders should throw their weight behind actualising Biafra rather than beg northerners to support their presidential ambition.
IPOB said southeast leaders should realize that the northern oligarchy would never support a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, hence the need to support Biafra.
A statement signed by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the remark that the southeast is prepared to beg for the 2023 presidency would make Igbos a laughing stock by the northerners.
Powerful said Igbo leaders should push for the freedom of IPOB’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu, rather than beg for the presidency.
According to Powerful: “The attention of the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to the unpatriotic moves by some unreliable elders in Biafraland who are begging the Almajiri elders for President of Nigeria from Igbo stock in 2023.
“We want to make it categorically clear to desperate Igbo politicians both elders and self-acclaimed leaders that IPOB under Mazi Nnamdi KANU is not looking for any Nigerian President of Igbo extraction under the present contraption called Nigeria.
“Again, IPOB will never be a party to their begging and fawning for a transient political office at the detriment of our freedom. They must understand that our singular concern is the unconditional release of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. If our elders think they can use IPOB and Nnamdi KANU to bargain their ways into political office then they are in for the shock of their life.
“We are keenly watching developments and taking record of them.
“Some self-appointed Igbo Leaders desperate for power in 2023 should refrain from making unguarded utterances that make the entire Igbo race a laughing stock by Northerners. It makes no sense to be desperate over the power shift in 2023 while illustrious Igbo son Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is still in detention.
“IPOB members that died did not die because of Igbo President of the Zoological Republic of Nigeria. What we need at this very point in time is the unconditional release of our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“It is better Igbo politicians, businessmen, elders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and acclaimed leaders including Ohaneze Ndigbo should retrace their steps and carry themselves with dignity at all times.
“They must realise that the Northern oligarchy and the Fulani cabal controlling Nigeria will never allow or support any Igbo man to become President of Nigeria. It doesn’t matter how such a stooge wishes to please them, they have bitterness against the Igbo. So, it’s better they focus on fighting for Biafra restoration.
“Any bargains against this divine mandate will not succeed. We call on Igbo politicians, elders and traditional rulers including Ohaneze Ndigbo to come back; there is no road in that path they are towing.”
