MEND: Kanu wanted to renounce Biafra in secret. It’s a lie –IPOB

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa and Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha

The altercation between the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the leader of the indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu seems unabated, as the militant group has accused the latter of planning to renounce Biafara in secret.
Jomo Gbomo in statement expressed displeasure with attempts by the IPOB and Kanu to distance themselves from the concessions secured by MEND from the Federal Government.

According to Gbomo, Kanu has agreed to renounce Biafra in secret but his proposal was rejected by the Federal Government which prefers a public renunciation.
MEND advised Kanu to come out clean and renounce in pubic what he had accepted to do in secret to save his followers from supporting what is merely a business venture.
The statement read in part “The attention of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has been drawn to the recent spate of hypocritical and provocative statements issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu which purport to dissociate IPOB/Kanu from some of the concessions which have so far been secured by MEND in the ongoing talks aimed at resolving the current Niger Delta crisis between the Federal Government and MEND.

MEND hereby uses this opportunity to inform the entire world that, following the group’s ongoing negotiations with the Federal Government, Nnamdi Kanu has made it clear that he is willing to renounce “Biafra” in secret; in exchange for his freedom. MEND and the Federal Government have however, flatly rejected the IPOB/Kanu hypocrisy to remain defiant in public; while accepting to secretly renounce secession.

MEND therefore urges the already frustrated and desperate Mr. Kanu and IPOB to swallow their pride and make a public denunciation of “Biafra” so that the gullible donors and followers; deceived by the illusion of a “Biafra Republic” that aims to annex the Niger Delta region as part of its territory; shall become fully aware that the so-called “Biafra Republic” is merely a business venture and scam whose sole beneficiaries are Kanu, directors of IPOB and their families and cronies”

However, IPOB said it will not negotiate or discuss with Federal Government until it obeys all the court orders granting unconditional release of its leader and other members in detention.
A statement by the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB  Mr. Emma Powerful said the struggle was biggest mass movement in the world.
“We have come to get Biafra or we die getting Biafra. Nobody will sway our leader or persuade him by setting an agenda for him in this struggle. Those that know him will attest to this. Biafra is more important to him than life.

“We are calling on all the members of the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide, lovers of freedom and friends of Biafra to disregard the statement credited to the defence counsel because Biafra and Nnamdi is not man made and no man can stop the quest for the liberation of our people.”

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