Biafra: IPOB blasts S'East govs for silence over killings; as IPOB UK warns President Buhari over utterances

The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has expressed grim disappointment in the South-east governors over their silence following the repeated killings of Biafra agitators, saying the governors have betrayed the people of the zone for failing to speak out.
In a statement signed by IPOB Media and Communication Officer, Emma Powerful, the group condemned the security agents for the unprovoked attacks and killings of the Biafran agitators noting that the governors have either compromised or are afraid of the Federal Government.
The group said that it was annoying that not even one of the governors or a political elite had the courage to condemn the security agents’ actions.
“It is annoying that not even one governor or any political elite from the South East has been bold enough to condemn the spate of killings of Bia-fran agitators by gun-toting Nigerian security agents.
“While they (governors) are afraid to speak out against the deliberate killing of Ndigbo, Northern and Muslim elite rise in unison to condemn the recent attack against Shiite Muslims.
“Even our hero, Ojukwu in his grave will be angry with our governors that not even one of them could condemn the killing of unarmed Biafran agitators during a prayer meeting in Aba last week,” they stated.
IPOB, reminded the governors that they would not earn the respect of the “oppressive federal authorities” by keeping sealed lips over the wanton killing of their subjects.
“The spirit of our fathers and all those who sacrificed their lives in the cause of this struggle for our independence will never forgive the governors and all the political elite for their conspiracy of silence,” IPOB said.
The group also reacted to a statement in the media credited to one chieftain of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Chris Eluemuno, who was quoted as saying that Biafra is dead, warning Igbo indigenes to be careful of their utterances.
IPOB frowned at the comment which it described as “irresponsible and least expected of a supposed chieftain of Ohanaeze. Anybody thinking Biafra was dead is living in self-deceit.”
The spokesman stated that “Biafra which long existed before Nigeria” will soon actualize its struggles for self-determination.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has come under attacks over his utterances against the Biafran agitators and Nigerians in the United Kingdom.
In a statement in UK, made available to the AUTHORITY on Satur¬day in Anambra State and endorsed by Mr Nnabuike Nnadede, Chief Ed¬itor, Voice of Biafra (BVI Channel I) for Customary Government of Indige¬nous People of Biafra (IPOB), Buhari’s utterances and labelling of Citizens of Nigeria as idiots was unfortunate and unwarranted.
The statement read in parts: “We, the Indigenous People of Biafra in the United Kingdom, despite the fact that we are seeking for our independence from Nigeria by the Authority of the Customary Government of Biafra, do hereby unequivocally condemn the recent labelling of Nigerians as criminals by President Muhammadu Buhari in London. Such comments are irrespon-sible and dehumanising.
“May we remind Mr President that Chuka Umunna, Chi Onwurah, Kate Osamor, and Helen Grant are Nigerians, who are members of British Parliament. They were properly scrutinised before they were nominated by their political parties, and voted for by their constituents. Many Nigerians here in the UK are University lecturers, doctors, engineers, barristers, writers and other professionals. They are not criminals.
“Despite all the crimes the British Empire committed against Africa – slave trade, mass murder and col¬onisation, no British Prime Minister has even admitted to such crimes, let alone addressing British citizens as criminals.
“Is Mr President also not aware that there are over one hundred Nigerians that play professional football in different clubs in the United Kingdom? Amongst them are John Mikel Obi of Chelsea, Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City, and Peter Odemwingie of Stoke. We were utterly embarrassed and disgusted when his comments about the criminal repu-tation of Nigerians were widely published in many British dailies.
“According to Metropolitan Police statement on countries with highest number of criminals in the UK prisons, Nigeria is not even amongst the top five. Poland ranks first, followed by Jamaica, Ireland, Somalia, and Roma-nian. None of these countries’ leaders that visited Britain ever branded their citizens as criminals.
“According to United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, Nigeria is not amongst the top ten countries with highest crime rate. Why should the Nigerian President call Nigerians criminals? Maybe there are information he has been hiding about himself and people around him.
“There are anti-migrants’ rhetorics already going on in Europe in general, and the UK in particular. Such comments by the number one citizen of Nigeria will have a chilling effect on Nigerians living abroad and may in-flame what is already a tense situation.
“Gen. Buhari would have used his visit to Britain to make case for Nigeri-ans, who have been affected by the UK draconian immigration laws that have made it difficult for them to bring their spouses over to join them. He would have canvassed for foreign investment, rather than insulting Nigerians before the international community.
“Since he became the president, everything has fallen apart – poverty is increasing, unemployment is rising, Naira has fallen to its lowest level, military/police brutality has increased to an alarming height, Boko Haram are feasting on the blood of the innocent more than ever. In the short period of time that he has been the president, over 20 peaceful Biafra activists have been killed by his genocidal army, while he is busy gallivanting from one country to another disgracing Nigerians instead of fixing the problems.
“He wants Nigerians to return home while70 percent of graduates are jobless and retirees do not receive their pensions. Does he know how much Nigerians in diaspora contribute to Nigeria economy yearly? According to Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development, they re-mitted $21 billion in 2015.