By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday debunked the rumor making the rounds that Mazi Simon Ekpa had been appointed to take over Radio Biafra as its Interim leader.
It is described as deliberate, handwork of detractors and enemies of its struggle, the distortion of facts, appealing to its members and the general public to disregard such action.
The Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Comrade Emma Powerful, said that nobody had been appointed to take over from its leader, assuring his soon release to continue with the liberation movement.
He explained that Ekpa, an illustrious son of Biafra was only included among the broadcasters on the Radio Biafra platform on the directive of its Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The statement read in part, “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our indomitable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to confirm the directive by our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, that Mazi Simon Ekpa, an illustrious son of Biafra be included among the broadcasters on the Radio Biafra platform.
The body said, “We, therefore, wish to also debunk the fake information and falsehood making the rounds that Mazi Simon Ekpa had been appointed to take over Radio Biafra or the Interim Leader of IPOB. This deliberate misrepresentation of facts is the handwork of detractors and enemies of our struggle.
“Mazi Simon Ekpa is only one of the many broadcasters on Radio Biafra whose immense contributions to the struggle are recognized. Nobody has been appointed to take over from our leader because he will soon be out to continue with the liberation movement.
He added that “We want to reiterate that IPOB is a united, formidable and well-structured family that even in the absence of our Leader the operations of our movement runs effortlessly on a well-established structure. The Directorate of State, (DOS) is fully in charge of the affairs in IPOB worldwide and therefore no vacuum exists concerning the day-to-day running of this great movement.”
“We know that confusions and the enemies of our struggle are looking for an opportunity to instigate disaffection and create a crisis in IPOB especially now that our Leader is in detention but their plan is dead on arrival.
“We, therefore, wish to urge the wonderful IPOB family worldwide as well as the general public to disregard any other information to the contrary. Importantly too, any information purportedly coming from IPOB that does not pass through our normal channel of information dissemination should be disregarded.
“While various contributions of members of IPOB and other Biafrans towards our liberation at this critical moment of our struggle are appreciated, we wish to make it clear that responsibilities are given to people solely for the service of the Biafran people.
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“Biafrans should be rest assured that the leadership of this movement put together by our leader Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will not allow anyone to sow seeds of confusion in the minds of our people.
“Biafrans must be at alert because the enemy is trying to play the same card they played in 2015 when Onyendu was in the custody of the Nigerian government. The IPOB worldwide family defeated them then and we shall also defeat them together with their co-travelers this time around.
“We urge all Biafrans to continue to maintain absolute discipline and remain resolute in our march towards the restoration of our Nation Biafra. The night is far spent and the morning is almost here. We are already at the threshold of our independence. We can’t be distracted and we can not lose focus at this moment.”
