More woes for Biafra campaign as second IPOB splinter group emerges

A second splinter group has emerged in the camp of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), further weakening the agitation for the Republic of Biafra.

Known as Reformed Indigenous People of Biafra (RE-IPOB), the new group said Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB, and Phillip Effiong Osuji spokesman of TRIPOB, had been sacked.

Ikemba Biafra, speaking on behalf of RE-IPOB, noted that the new group would resist the burning of the Biafran flag.

“Both IPOB and TRIPOB have been sacked; they should no longer speak for the Biafran people. They are the same outfit and have nothing to offer Biafra,” read his statement.

“We warn that if Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB and the so-called TRIPOB continue their antics, RE-IPOB will be forced to make public the sponsors of the two groups. RE-IPOB will not accede to the burning of the Biafran flag as the sacked TRIPOB planned. The Biafran flag is sacred to Biafrans.

“If the federal government is sincere in its dialogue with RE-IPOB, then the Biafran flag can be exchanged with the Nigerian flag in the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Security Adviser, Director of State Security and the Elders of Biafra.

“If the dialogue is fruitful, then a peace treaty and a ‘no victor no vanquished tree’ will be planted at Gakem where the first shot of the Nigerian Civil war started and at Amichi Nnewi where the formal cessation of hostilities of the war began.”

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

TRIPOB, the first group to break away, had selected October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day, as the day when the Biafran flag would be burnt and forgotten for good.

TRIPOB said its outlook on the agitation had changed and therefore resolved “that due to the rigid and fatalistic position of the Nnamdi Kanu led IPOB, several of us with like minds shall breakaway”.

“We now see the Biafra question from a different perspective,” it said.

“Biafra will now become to us a powerful metaphor for change, development and greatness of the Igbos inside a united Nigeria, where the South East axis will be a utopia from the sheer determination borne out of the Biafra metaphor.

“We believe in being a part of a united Nigeria, and a new way of thinking, where the victim mentality will no longer be acceptable.”

POLITICAL SOLUTION

The first indication of division and possible differences in ideology came to the fore two weeks ago when Kanu’s lawyers released a statement saying the Biafra radio director was interested in a “political solution”.

“Nnamdi Kanu is not averse to a political solution in resolving the present politically-orchestrated ordeal. Nnamdi Kanu welcomes genuine political solution to this case.

“It is not easy to drop an ideology. IPOB is bigger than Nnamdi Kanu. Self-determination is as a result of marginalisation.”

Although IPOB immediately released a statement countering that of the lawyer, the fracture in the group had become apparent.

With the emergence of the new group, it remains to be seen which of them the government would negotiate with, if indeed there was something called “political solution” on the table.