Pro – secessionist crusader and leader of
the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),
Nnamdi Kanu, has sensationally declared
Ebonyi state, a free Biafran state and vowed
to shut down governance in the ‘salt state’
for three days on his next visit.
Kanu, made the controversial declaration
while addressing thousands of Biafra
agitators during his tour of Ebonyi state on
Monday. “I have come to declare Ebonyi a
Biafra state and when next I come, I will
shut down the state for three days”, he
declared amidst cheers from his supporters.
During his stop in Enugu, the Abia state
born Biafra agitator had declared that the
Anambra state governorship election slated
for November 18, would not hold unless the
federal government organises a referendum
for the Igbos on October 1, 2017.
Kanu issued the veiled threat while fielding
questions with newsmen at a brief event
where he received awards from three Igbo
groups- the Eastern Consultative Assembly
(ECA), the Igbo Students’ Association (ISA)
and the Igbo Women Assembly (IWA), in
Enugu.
Kanu said “There will be no election in
Anambra state come November 2017 and
going forward there won’t be any election
until they give me date for a referendum.
They know what to do; convene a meeting, I
will send my rep, give us a date for
referendum, that is the only way.
“In which part of this earth have you ever
found a measure of self-determination to be
equated to war except in Nigeria because
the political leaders do not understand the
difference between self-determination and
war?
The Biafra activist, who was released from
prison custody on health grounds last June,
denied allegations that he was using the
illegal Radio Biafra to propagate hate
speech.
He argues: “Self-determination does not
mean hate speech; the status quo can no
longer remain. Like my brother Evangelist
Eliot Ugochukwu-Uko said, if on or before
October 1 nothing happens in terms of
substantial restructuring, then there won’t
be any election; the people will support us.”
On oppositions to his call by the Ohanaeze
Ndigbo and other Igbo leaders, Kanu said
their stand makes no stand because “the
people are with us; we have their support
100 percent and come 18th of November
2017, the world will be amazed.
However, while describing Nigeria as a
‘failed state’ and a ‘zoo’, Kanu urged
Ebonyians, to boycott the 2019 general
election and all subsequent elections in the
state by the federal government until the
demand for referendum is granted.
“Nigeria is a zoo and a dead country that
will be buried tomorrow. No one from
Ebonyi should vote for Nigeria in 2019”, he
said.
The tough-talking IPOB leader, who stopped
briefly at at Yaweh Church for a brief prayer
before proceeding to Abakaliki in a
motorcade amidst tight security, assured his
supporters that Biafra has come to stay. “I
will teach our enemies what they do not
know. I will teach them that nobody can
stop Biafra because Biafra has come to
stay”, he boasted.
Kanu equally vowed to continue his tour of
what he called Biafraland, insisting that
nothing will stop him from his secessionist
crusade. His words: “I will traverse all parts
of Biafra land and other areas without
anybody stopping me including police and
soldiers who are always in the habit of
harassing people. I will continue to walk in
the midst of these security agents as you
can see and nobody will arrest me. They
know they cannot stop Biafra.
Earlier in a presentation termed “Enugu
Declaration”, different Igbo groups at the
event called on the government not to make
further delay towards restructuring the
country. The declaration was signed by Dr
Alfred Udokwu; South East Elders Union; Rev
Fr John Odey, Eastern Consultative Assembly;
Bishop Mike Ibenene, South East Christian
Network; Chief (Mrs) Maria Okwor:Igbo
Women Assembly; Evangelist Elliot
Ugochukwu-Uko, Igbo Youth Movement,
among others.
