The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has urged the Nigerian government to pick a date for negotiations on the Biafran referendum.
“The earlier the Nigeria government schedules a referendum date for Biafrans to decide their fate, the better for everyone,” Emma Powerful, IPOB’s media and publicity secretary said via a statement over the weekend.
Powerful said IPOB is now ready to hold talks with the government over the peaceful exit of the southeast region, the homeland of the Igbo ethnic group, and some parts of the south-south region from Nigeria.
IPOB is asking for a United Nations-supervised referendum.
The group said “It is practically impossible for Biafra and Nigeria to coexist as one nation”, while citing that over over six million of its members have lost their lives since the self-determination struggle started in 1967.
Part of the statement reads: “IPOB stands for peace. We stand for dialogue, and we stand for discussions. The cardinal rule under which IPOB was formed is to lead the way to a peaceful separation of Biafra from Nigeria. Biafra and Nigeria are two different nations.
“The events from 1948 to 2023 have shown that it is practically impossible for Biafra and Nigeria to coexist as one nation. IPOB has been calling on the Nigeria State for discussions on a peaceful referendum date, but the Nigeria State always returns the peaceful call with violent suppression.
“We have always maintained that self-determination is our inalienable right according to the UN laws. We remain committed to pursuing our self-determination peacefully according to international laws and regulations.
“However, the Nigeria Government’s repressive approaches to stop the movement have led to the death of over six million Biafrans since 1967 to date, yet that has not quenched the desire for Biafrans to have their Independent State.”
The statement continued, “IPOB is ready to meet with the Nigerian government any day they are ready for negotiations on Biafra referendum. IPOB supports peaceful separation from the contraption formed by foreigners called Nigeria.
“IPOB is ready for dialogue on Biafra referendum date and procedures. We want peace and are ever ready to leave Nigeria in peace but not the peace of the graveyard. We remain resolute and focused towards our goal, which is Biafra Independence via a referendum.”
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