The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a Biafran self-determination movement was founded and duly registered in the United Kingdom(UK) in 2012 as a non-violent movement seeking referendum for Biafra, A race forced to accept Nigeria citizenship. IPOB has operational license in over 100 countries of the world. IPOB has a well structured organogram that confers the title of a Coordinator to the highest organizational authority in each country.

The above explanation is due to the many smear campaigns projected to blackmail IPOB. There have been many deliberate misrepresentations, misinterpretations and misclassifications of the mission of IPOB under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. For example, the mainstream media keeps referring to the organization as a separatist group and keeps linking the group to acts of criminality perpetrated by someone whose identity is well known. That is why this question has to be asked, “is IPOB a Self-determination or Separatist group?

For clarity, let us understand both terms. In article 3 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) it states that “Indigenous peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right, they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.” Whereas Separatism is a condition where individuals or groups usually united by language, culture or common historical antecedents vehemently demands for the self actualization or independence of their separate country because of perceived political and economic exclusion, marginalization and repression. It is important to explain that from the above, a non-critical mind may see both as the same. However, a critical mind can easily see that Self-determination is an Article of United Nations while Separatism is not. Moreover, Separatism stems from Secession — which is an act of forceful declaration of independence.

From the foregoing, when someone officially takes a name or registers a company, the implication is that everyone must address them rightly. When you misclassify them, you will be issued with ‘cease and desist’ because you are committing a crime. In the same vein, when you are claiming who you are not, it is called ‘impersonation’ and it is a high crime punishable by local and international laws.

The mainstream media do not get to choose their reality — for there is only one reality, which is that IPOB is a registered self-determination organization and wishes to be so addressed. Likewise, a criminal does not get to have his truth — for there is only one truth. And, in this case, the truth is that IPOB has maintained a call for Biafran freedom through a lawful approach of referendum, not through secession which has the tendency to result in conflict. IPOB demands Biafra peaceful restoration, through a vote of referendum. This is a difference very important to note, especially for Nigeria media and their likes.

IPOB have issued several memos showing that Simon Ekpa is not a member of IPOB, that his autopilot group is not connected to IPOB peaceful movement, and that there is no faction of IPOB anywhere. Therefore, it is only normal for all criminalities to be associated to the very criminals/group committing them, not to IPOB.

It would seem that those engaging in the blackmail of IPOB are either ignorant or mischievous or both. The only reason they are attaching the wrong names and linking IPOB to criminals is because they understood that no country or government would negotiate with any group that uses force and violence on the civil populace. They interprets Eastern Security Network(ESN) which is a vigilante for curbing Fulani Herdsmen excesses on the farmlands, bushes and forests and have no business with enforcement of any Sit-At-Home, a purely civil disobedience process.
It is not the duty of IPOB to control what a criminal does. IPOB is only duty bound to distance and debunk a criminal. It is the duty of any journalist to seek a factual and accurate information through either Radio Biafra or any other official channel through which IPOB disseminates information.

Written by Chibueze Daniel

Edited by Ogah C S Maduabuchi

For Family Writers Press International