…Bans Independence Day celebration in S’East
The banned separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has declared that there would be no independence day celebration in South-East, as according to it, the Igbo have not benefited anything from Nigeria.
The group’s Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, who said this in a statement on Friday, called on the governors of the region and other political leaders to shun the exercise, saying no “Nigerian flag will be hoisted in the zone” on October 1.
The group argued that events in the country as ‘spearheaded’ by its leadership in the past 63 years did not show South-East was part of Nigeria.
The statement read in part: “The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by the Supreme leader, Nnamdi Kanu hereby call on Biafrans both home and in diaspora to shun participation in the Nigeria Independence Day Celebration on 1st October 2023.
“Nigeria has rejected all our efforts to be treated as equal citizens. Nigeria has marginalized Biafrans politically and economically. Since Nigeria has rejected us, we have also rejected Nigeria and her celebrations. The Nigeria Government and Nigerian citizens have time after time demonstrated that we are not part of them; and therefore, we must do everything possible to liberate ourselves from the bondage of Nigeria.
“As Nigeria’s government plans to celebrate her flag Independence from Britain, we advise Eastern region Governors and political leaders to shun the October 1st Independence celebration in our region. Moreso, we advise Biafrans not to attend any Independence celebration anywhere within Biafra territory or outside of it.
“Hence, IPOB has banned the Independence Day celebration and flying of Nigeria flags in any part of Biafraland on October 1st, 2023.
It further maintained the leaders of the country were paying lip service towards the protection of lives and property, adding, “Nigeria is a destiny destroyer for all nations inside it and every citizen therein.
“Anyone seen celebrating the Nigeria flag independence in Biafraland will regret his or her life. Once again, we maintain that there will not be any celebration of Nigeria’s flag Independence in our Local Government Councils and States.
