The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has urged Amnesty International, AI not to tarnish its hard-earned and respected reputation by joining the Nigerian government to blackmail IPOB.
In a statement released on Thursday by the group's Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB said there were indications that Amnesty International, Nigeria may have been compromised as it now speaks "from both sides of its mouth."
IPOB was reacting to a recent statement purported to have been issued by AI and other groups claiming that the pro-self-determination group is working against Ndigbo in the 2023 elections.
While expressing its doubts that such comments could come from the rights group, IPOB reiterated that no other group has worked passionately and tirelessly harder than IPOB to bring to global attention, the plight of Ndigbo in Nigeria.
IPOB further insisted that it has been consistent in explaining that it has no faction and has persistently condemned the criminal activities of those calling themselves Autopilot.
The statement entitled “IPOB works for Ndigbo (Biafra) and will not be blackmailed by anyone,” said, “The attention of the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the purported statement from Amnesty International, AI, and others saying that IPOB is working against Ndigbo in the 2023 election.
“Amnesty International Nigeria should have known better than any other human rights organization in the world about IPOB activities since 2009 unless they have also been bought over.
"We have remained peaceful even in the face of the highest levels of provocations."
IPOB activities.
The statement continued: “IPOB has worked tirelessly to let the world know our predicaments in this contraption called Nigeria.
"We have also consistently let those who care to understand, know that IPOB has no faction, let alone having a factional leader. IPOB is one big family with Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu as the ONLY leader.
“IPOB has always condemned the criminal activities of those who claim to be Autopilot led by one self-acclaimed Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s disciple in Finland.
"Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has no disciple whatsoever anywhere in the world. IPOB has members worldwide, and the self-acclaimed disciple is not a member of this worldwide family.
‘IPOB has never kept quiet to let the world know that it is not part of the Autopilot group.
"In our several press releases, we have distanced ourselves, from the self-acclaimed disciple and his violent followers, but these paid and compromised agents kept on linking themselves to IPOB because they are paid by some Nigerian agents to do so.
“We don’t know what Autopilot group is doing, and they don’t know what IPOB is doing or how IPOB operates.
"Whatever the Autopilot criminal group is planning and doing, we in IPOB don’t know.
"Reputable human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International Nigeria, know that IPOB has never been part of an Autopilot group terrorizing the Eastern region.
"There is no other group as passionate as IPOB or one that has worked as hard as IPOB to defend the interest of Ndigbo.
Originally, IPOB was formed to secure the rights of Ndigbo.
"For Amnesty International to say, (although we do not believe that such a statement is coming from them,) that IPOB is working against the interest of Ndigbo shows that they are playing double standards and speaking from both sides of their mouth.
“IPOB was formed and built with one purpose, which is the peaceful restoration of the Biafra Nation through a United Nations, UN-supervised referendum.
"The Nigerian government and politicians sponsoring criminals and agents provocateurs to impersonate and discredit IPOB’s peaceful movement are callous.
“IPOB is a decent organization and movement seeking the freedom of their people.
"Nobody who understands the politics of the Nigerian government and its murderous security agents should accuse IPOB of violence unless those paid by the Nigerian government to sabotage Ndigbo and IPOB agitation.
2023 Elections.
On the ongoing 2023 general elections in Nigeria, IPOB said: “We have consistently maintained that IPOB has nothing against Nigeria’s election. We haven’t called for any boycott or any sit-at-home. We have said that voting is an individual right.
"We have encouraged Ndigbo, whoever wants to vote, to go out en masse and vote for any candidate of their choice.
IPOB didn’t call for an election boycott or “no election” or sit-at-home.
Signs of compromise.
IPOB alleged that AI's statement is proof that, just as in some other countries and organizations, the rights group
has been bought over by the Nigerian government: “The period we knew that Amnesty International had compromised their position was when they had secret meetings last year with some propagandists and evil media people to join to blackmail IPOB in 2022.
“IPOB is aware that the Nigerian government has bought over some nations and organizations to blackmail the IPOB movement.
"Amnesty International Nigeria, in their recent statement, has shown the world that it has been compromised.
“We urge Amnesty International Nigeria, to open their eyes to know that the Nigerian government has moved against you in the past and is trying to tarnish your reputation. Do not allow them to tarnish your respected reputation," IPOB advised.
Human Rights.
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