BIAFRA: Our ideals different from MASSOB/BIM's - IPOB

THE leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared that it does not share the same philosophy, geography, and ideology with the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB/BIM)

It stated this in a chat with The Sun while lashing out at the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) saying the latter is a political pressure group fighting, as it claims, for a separate country for only the Igbo  while  ''IPOB is fighting for the restoration of the nation of Biafra as geographically defined by the approval of the meeting of Eastern Consultative Assembly held on May 28, 1967''

Speaking through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful IPOB reminded one and all that it is fighting for the total liberation of Biafraland and faulted Uwazuike's stance by making it only an Igbo affair.

His words: ''IPOB is a mass movement with a singular objective, which is the puritanical restoration of the nation of Biafra. Simply put, we in IPOB are freedom fighters and not businessmen or estate developers. We are not skilled negotiators, neither are we hoteliers or have interest in primitive wealth accumulation. Our purpose is Biafra and Biafra alone.''

''In addition, we are fighting for the total liberation of the entire Biafraland and not only for a section of Biafra occupied by those who speak Igbo language. We can confidently say that Uwazuruike is not a freedom fighter. He has since sold out to Nigeria. Uwazuruike is “Igbonizing” Biafra or making it a “South East affair” thereby giving the impression that brave soldiers like General Phillip Effiong and General Conrad Dibia Nwawo and others were mercenaries because they do not come from the South East.''

''IPOB and BIM are not pursing the same objective. We would also re-emphasize that we are at peace with everyone and every organization that diligently seeks the restoration of Biafra in truth and honesty.''

''  If Uwazuruike repents and confesses his sins and makes restitutions, who knows, he might be welcomed back into the fold of genuine Biafra freedom fighters. IPOB will like to correct the highly regarded Archbishop Chukwuma on the notion that Biafra is an “Igbo thing.”

''Therefore, using the phrase “in the interest of Ndigbo” is totally wrong and regrettable from someone at the level of the revered Archbishop. We are for the interest of Biafra, not just Ndigbo alone.''