Biafra: IPOB opens up on establishing a government in exile

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Sunday, denied the report that it is establishing a government in exile.

The group was reacting to a comment by Simon Ekpa, self-acclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, that the group was setting up a government in exile.

But IPOB has distanced Kanu from the said Government in exile.

A statement by IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said: “We the global movement and noble family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to reiterate once again to Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom across the globe that IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu has not set up any Government In Exile (GIE). We, therefore, dissociate ourselves completely from the purported Government in Exile.

“IPOB has legitimate and well established institutions and well-structured administrative hierarchy that oversees the day- to-day running of Biafra affairs. Already, all Diplomatic Missions and countries of the world know about Biafra agitation and they communicate with IPOB as the responsible authority that oversees the affairs of the Biafran people be it Nationally or Internationally.

“IPOB has international contacts and connections not through any worthless Government In Exile but through our established Institutions and Structures . So, anybody or group peddling or claiming to have set up a Government In Exile has again embarked on a jamboree like those who came before them claiming to have formed a government in Exile at one point in time. They simply do not deserve to be given any attention because this is the avenue that the Nigerian government wants us to water down our agitation for total freedom.”

“We are not unaware that some dissidents expelled from IPOB, including a former Deputy to our Leader had once suggested this Government In Exile to our Leader, Kanu, but he did not buy into it knowing fully how needless it is at this stage of our struggle.

“But unfortunately, now that our Leader is in detention, these same elements saw it as an opportunity to actualise their selfish ambition by quickly claiming to have set up the non-existent GIE. We know that their ultimate aim is to use it to sell the Biafra struggle to our enemies but they have failed woefully,” the statement said.