Biafra: Ohaneze Ndigbo renounces IPOB, insists on national unity

The youth wing of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, a socio-cultural group, on Monday renounced those calling for secession and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The student group said Nigeria’s peace and unity was non-negotiable, thus it is strongly behind unity of the country.

President of the group, Comrade Anya Anya, during a briefing in Abuja, in solidary to President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign said the president has been working so hard to restore the country’s dignity and territorial integrity.

He added that the president’s commitment to national unity was in alignment with the vision of the nationalists.

Asked if the group was in support of the secession agitation of the IPOB President, Nnamdi Kanu, he said: “We believe in one Nigeria and a united Nigeria with sincerity of purposes.”

However, he added that, “If Nnamdi Kanu as at today is facing issues as regards to Biafra or no Biafra, I want to sincerely tell you that some of his demands maybe something that Nigerians will also need to take care of because there are issues rising politically, or based on dividends of democracy that should be attended to as demanded by the people of south east.Speaking on the alleged arms scandal against the interior minister, Gen Abdulrahman Dambazzau, the group said the deliberate plan to destroy the image of the former military chief should be condemned.

He said it is expected to conduct intensive preliminary investigations on such allegation, supported by genuine evidence rather than publicly engaging in hatchet jobs against Dambazzau’s personality.

“We wish to remind all and sundry that General Dambazzau was a chief of army staff and not Minister of Defence nor national security adviser to any administration. Therefore, enemies of progress should stop roping him into any corruption charge.

“Ohaneze Ndigbo students shall vehemently oppose any attempt to tarnish the hard earned image and integrity of this noble General who all his life is serving Nigeria as a first class security person…”