The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB have responded to Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State after he downplayed the possibility of achieving self-determination in Nigeria.
Gov Bala said it would be difficult for IPOB to achieve self-determination in Nigeria because Igbos own half of the country.
According to Mohammed: “When I was minister of Federal Capital Territory, the Igbo capital investment in Abuja was over 50 percent.
“That is the true position, not only in Abuja, but in Kano, Lagos, Kaduna and other states. So, we are interrelated and connected as a people in Nigeria.
“We need to stabilise that symbiotic bond that binds us together. When IPOB is talking about self determination and self actualization, for where? When you owe over half of the country.
“God may not give you everything. He has given something to you. That is the truth. Because of this, I am calling for this unity and fraternity among us. If the Igbo youth understand this, they will now know the need for peace and unity in the country.”
But in a reply statement titled ”IPOB TO BALA MOHAMMED: STOP ADVERTISING YOUR IGNORANCE, LAND IS NOT OUR PROBLEM” signed by Emma Powerful, the IPOB said they and Mr Bala ar not of the same class.
The group added that it has ”no time to join issues with a Fulani Governor by default who sees nothing wrong in the atrocities by Fulani bandits but is always in a hurry to fault mere peaceful agitation”.
The statement reads;
”The attention of the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our indomitable Leader and liberator of our time, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu KANU has been drawn to the laughable, disgraceful and unguarded statements credited to ignoble Governor of Bauchi State, Gov. Bala Muhammed, saying that IPOB cannot achieve Biafra. This self-deluded Fulani irredentist advertised his ignorance by mentioning IPOB in his political ranting thinking that IPOB is in his class.
”IPOB has no time to join issues with a Fulani Governor by default who sees nothing wrong in the atrocities by Fulani bandits but is always in a hurry to fault mere peaceful agitation by nonviolent IPOB and other pro-Biafra groups.
”Bala Mohammed the defender of terrorists should stop commenting on IPOB matters because he has limited and biased knowledge about us.
”Contrary to this thinking, IPOB is not begging for land. Land does not signify freedom, we are fighting for our self determination which will show the world that we are special people. Our land is enough for us to operate as a nation. We don’t need borrowed lands. There are so many countries in the world occupying lesser landmass than we do.
”Gov Bala Muhammed of Bauchi should respect himself and must know that IPOB will achieve Biafra freedom in his time and he will be shocked. IPOB is a God-ordained movement designed to champion the cause of Biafra and liberate its citizens from the Nigeria bondage.”
