IPOB faults Buhari over comment on Nigeria's unity, insists it's negotiable

As President Muhammadu Buhari's recent comment  that Nigeria's unity is non- negotiable continues to generate mixed reactions, the  Indigenous Peoples of Biafra ( IPOB), has thrown its weight behind those condemning the remarks.

Recall that eminent Nigerians and groups including Noble Laurette, Wole Soyinka, pan Yoruba socio-political group, the Afenifefe,   Ohanaeze Ndigbo , Ijaw Youth Congress among others have all disagreed with Buhari's position, saying that Nigeria's unity is not only negotiable , but must be renegotiated urgently if the country must continue to exist peacefully as one entity.

IPOB in its own reaction, said "the  statement shows that the President  is not aware the situation of things within the unity of this contraption called Nigeria."

A statement by IPOB's Media and Publicity Officer, Emma Powerful, described Buhari's comment as " most unfortunate and self serving", adding that no part of Nigeria wants to continue with the " forced political marriage called amalgamation".


It read in part: " It is unfortunate that somebody in that cadre cannot ascertain and did not know that the situation in the country now calls for unity renegotiation.

"The colonial masters amalgamated the northern and southern protectorates together without consultation in 1914 and now no section of the country wants to stay with each other."

IPOB argued  that since the various ethnic nationalities crammed together by the colonial masters during the 1914 amalgamation now seek self rule, it would be wise for the leadership of the country under Buhari to initiate a process of peaceful dissolution of Nigeria.

"It is the duty of the government in power and the new generation to come together decides whether they will stay or not.

"Forcing people to maintain the citizenship of the country outside their indigenous identities is fraud and it will not work because the people of 1914 and 2016 are two different and are not the same.

"It is degrading and embarrassing that the APC led government doesn't  have good advisers who have knowledge of the precarious situation the country is heading to."

IPOB, however, submitted that despite the utterances and the body language of Buhari over the negotiability or otherwise of Nigeria, " there is no going back in the quest for Biafra autonomy".

"We IPOB, have decided not to go back in the quest for the restoration of the nation of Biafra and no human being can bring us back because it is a divine project."

IPOB further declared that until its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu is unconditional freed from detention, peace would continue to elude Nigeria.

" We want to inform the general public that without the government of Buhari addressing  this issue of Biafra  and releasing  our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally, the country will not have peace."