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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has criticised the founder of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, accusing him of betraying the Biafra struggle for personal gain while dismissing his recent allegation that detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is recruiting Igbo youths for violence.
The group’s position was contained in a statement signed by Mazi Alex Chinonso Omenka, Emekuku Unit 1 Coordinator, Owerri Zone, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The group was reacting to Uwazuruike’s recent call on Ohanaeze Ndigbo to visit Kanu in detention at the Sokoto Correctional Centre and urge him to stop allegedly recruiting Igbo youths for violent activities, reports Daily Independent.
Rejecting the allegation, IPOB described Uwazuruike’s comments as an attempt to regain public relevance.
“The recent statement by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, where he begs Ohanaeze Ndigbo to go to Sokoto Prison and warn Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to stop ‘recruiting Igbo youths for violence,’ is nothing but cheap ‘notice me’ propaganda.
“Anybody with fading relevance and seeking limelight always latches negatively onto the Kanu name to attract favours from anti-Biafra politicians. It is meant to cover up the killings of our people and help the Nigerian government,” the statement said.
The group accused Uwazuruike of abandoning the Biafra cause for financial and political benefits.
“Ralph Uwazuruike sold out the Biafra struggle a long time ago. He traded his conscience, dignity, and the name of Biafra for money and favour from the Federal Government.
“Today, he is more like a businessman who builds houses and hotels. He worries about the price of cement more than the cost of freedom. A man like this has no right to talk about sacrifice or leadership,” IPOB alleged.
Defending Kanu against accusations of encouraging violence, the group insisted that he had never directed youths to engage in violent acts.
“Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not recruiting youths to commit violence. What Uwazuruike and his friends are calling ‘recruitment’ is simply our people waking up to defend themselves. The Eastern Security Network (ESN) was formed because Fulani bandits and their helpers were killing our people, destroying farms, and taking our land, while the Nigerian Army and Police did nothing or even helped them. ESN said ‘No more.’
“That is not starting trouble —that is protecting our mothers, fathers and children when the government failed to do so,” the statement added.
IPOB also dismissed suggestions that videos circulating online showing armed young men demonstrated that Kanu was directing violence from detention.
“The videos of young men in the bush vowing to fight back are not proof that Kanu is causing deaths from prison. They are the voice of angry youths who are tired of watching their brothers get killed for no reason,” the group said.
It maintained that Kanu’s recent restructuring of IPOB and what it described as the “100-man divine project” were intended to strengthen the organisation internally.
“Kanu’s recent changes in leadership and the 100-man divine project are not about violence. They are about cleaning up the movement, removing betrayers, and making it stronger for the final victory.
“The project is for legal work and proper organisation, not guns. Uwazuruike knows this, but he is playing games for his paymasters,” the statement read.
IPOB also faulted Uwazuruike’s reported comparison of IPOB members with Boko Haram insurgents seeking amnesty.
“Uwazuruike’s talk about ‘repentant IPOB members’ asking for amnesty like Boko Haram is very insulting. Boko Haram killed many Nigerians and got forgiveness and money.
“Our youths are dying because they demand a simple referendum or try to defend their land. There is no comparison, and only a sell-out will try to make one,” it stated.
Reaffirming Kanu’s commitment to the Biafra cause, the group said he had remained steadfast despite years in detention.
“For many years now, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has stayed strong. He demands a referendum for Biafra and has refused every offer to betray his people.
“He has stayed in prison, suffered torture, and still refuses to compromise. That is why the enemy fears him even while he is locked up. Men like Uwazuruike attack him because they have already sold out,” IPOB said.
The group added, “Shame on all the saboteurs and noise makers who have sold their own people for a pot of porridge. Your time is over. The Lion of Biafra is roaring from prison, and nothing can stop the coming of Biafra.”
