IPOB, Ohanaeze crisis deepens, as IPOB bars Ohanaeze from speaking for Igbos

THERE is a high tension in the South-East zone as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), moves to stop the Apex Igbo Socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the south-east governors’ forum from speaking on behalf of people in the zone.

The spokesperson of the group, Mr Emma Powerful who issued announcement proscribing the Apex Igbo organization and the southeast governors’ forum yesterday, alleging that the leaders are traitors.

The group in a press release made available to newsmen warned that anybody or group of persons working with Nnia Nwodo led Ohaneze Ndigbo or South East Governors Forum is doing so at their own risk.

IPOB further alleged that Ohanaeze Ndigbo which was formed in 1976 was not formed by Igbos, but by some northern leaders, using some Igbo men, to destabilize the progressive established order under the leadership of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe in the run-up to 1979 democratic rule.

“The few surviving founding members of Ohanaeze will attest to this undisputed fact. To weaken the post-war cohesion that still existed among the people of the east, Fulani caliphate gathered their Igbo agents together to destroy the east from within”.

They blamed Ohanaeze for not standing up to fight for the people of the south-east when it mattered, saying that their ineptitude was part of the reason for the proscription of all activities of the group.

On their sit-at-home exercise observed last week, which they described as very successful, Powerful boasted that the order has shown that it(IPOB) was the only group that could speak for the Igbos.

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Part of the release read, “By virtue of the overwhelming compliance with the 14th of September 2018 Sit-At-Home order issued by IPOB and the mandate conferred therein as the authentic representative of the people of the east, we the Indigenous People of Biafra do hereby declare the proscription of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and all other gatherings of saboteurs and collaborators operating within Biafra.

“These two groups do not represent the people of the east and lack the popular mandate to do so. Events of September 14, is confirmation that our people have rejected their politics of acquiescence, servitude and slavery.”

“In as the people of the east is concerned, Ohaneze Ndigbo no longer exist, but only on paper. Henceforth any public gathering organised by them will be disrupted.

“The era of traitors and collaborators presiding over the affairs of the people of the east has come to an end,” the release said.

IPOB and Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been at loggerhead over the proscription of the former. IPOB had accused Ohanaeze and the South East governors of inducing the federal government to proscribe it.