IPOB Crowd
THE Indigenous of People Biafra, IPOB has accused the United States-based National Democratic Institute, NDI, and International Republican Institute, IRI,
of being sponsored by the Nigerian government "to make fallacious, and false statements against IPOB” about Nigeria's 2023 general elections.
IPOB advised the Institutes "to be circumspect in their reportage" saying it is unfortunate that they are "making caricatures of themselves in their effort to help the Nigerian government blackmail IPOB," and urging them to investigate independently to be better informed about the group's activities in the Southeast region.
IPOB was reacting to a recent report by both institutes claiming that IPOB and Amotekun may spark post-election violence in Nigeria.
The self-determination group challenged the American-based institutes to produce evidence where it ordered for the upcoming 2023 elections in Nigeria to be disrupted.
IPOB alleged that the Nigeria government and its security agencies are the sponsors of criminals and bandits to cause confusion and crisis in the South East region- a fact which the two US-based institutes, the National Democratic Institute, NDI, and the International Republican Institute, IRI, should have known if the
American secret agency was sincere with their intelligence.
The group, however, maintained that the Nigerian government's lobbying activities on international organizations against the IPOB, to tarnish the image of the group to the international community will come to nothing.
In a statement by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade
Emma Powerful, entitled “Nigerian government is heavily lobbying international organization against IPOB," the group said:
“We the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, under the leadership of Onyendu, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to advise the two American Institutes who were sponsored to make fallacious, and false statements against IPOB, towards Nigeria, compromised 2023 election to be circumspect in their reportage.
“If American secret agencies are sincere with their intelligence, the two US-based Institute: National Democratic Institute, NDI, and International Republican Institute, IRI, should have known that the Nigeria government and her security apparatus are the ones sponsoring criminals and bandits to cause confusion and havoc in the South East region and turn around to blame it on IPOB.
“It is unfortunate that these two organizations are making caricatures of themselves in their effort to help the Nigerian government blackmail IPOB.
“IPOB remains neutral towards Nigeria 2023 general elections because we know what we are looking for.
“IPOB has never issued any order to disrupt the election in Nigeria in 2023.
“Those people using ESN and IPOB’s name to issue statements are not IPOB members and can never be our members.
“They are sponsored by Nigerian politicians, the Nigerian government, and her security agents to blackmail IPOB.
IPOB Crowd
“We challenge the United States-based Institutes to provide evidence where IPOB has made an official statement or ordered disruption of 2023 elections in Nigeria.
“These two Institutes should carry out independent investigations and be properly informed about IPOB and its activities both at home and in the diaspora because we know that their Embassy in Abuja has already been compromised by Nigeria government to give false information against IPOB and ESN activities in the eastern region.
“American Embassy in Abuja is colluding with Nigeria government and its security agents against IPOB for daring to agitate for a separate state or nation, where they can live in peace.
“Nigeria government has levied secret wars against Biafrans, especially IPOB members for peacefully demanding self-determination.
“Many members of IPOB have been illegally detained, victims of extra-judicial execution, many detained indefinitely and many have been forcefully removed from their families.
“Will these Institutes claim ignorance of crimes and of the genocide against Biafrans who only want freedom from this oppressive country called Nigeria?
“Will they claim ignorance of the illegal abduction and extraordinary rendition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu?
Nnamdi Kanu with his legal team
“Will these US-based Institutes claim ignorance of the disobedience of the Court and UN Working Group orders on the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, by the Nigeria government?
“American Embassy should stand with the creed of their country by standing against injustice and human rights abuses.
“Their foreign missions and diplomats, should stand for justice and stop allowing themselves to be compromised by Nigeria State against Biafrans.”
According to a pre-election statement issued by the National Democratic Institute, NDI, and International Republican Institute, IRI, "Secessionist agitation by IPOB,)/Eastern Security Network in the South East threatens to depress voter turnout. If the election is perceived to be illegitimate, the group could gain significant traction, and potentially become directly involved in post-election violence.
“The proliferation of informal security elements – such as Amotekun in the South West and Ebube Agu in the South East – further complicates security and increases opportunities for election violence and malfeasance.”
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