By Emma Ogbuehi
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has warned against any member of the group insulting the leadership following the suspension of its sit-at-home order. The group emphasised that the suspension on the sit-at-home order is binding on all members warning that defaulters to the directive would be dealt with squarely.
IPOB had declared sit-at-home every Monday in solidarity with their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu currently being held by the Department of State Services, DSS.
However, the group reversed the decision, saying that the sit-at-home will now be observed any day Kanu appears in court for his trial by the Federal Government.
The suspension, however, triggered reactions from some of its members that expressed dissatisfaction with the new directive.
Reacting to the opposition of the new instruction by some of their members, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, IPOB vowed to clamp down on whoever insults their leaders and goes against the directive.
The statement which was released on Tuesday reads, “We the global family of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the Supreme command and leadership of our Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, have noted with utter dismay, the barrage of insults rained on our leadership over the adjustment of the earlier announced Monday’s weekly sit-at-home in solidarity with our illegally and unjustly detained leader.
“We want to make it clear to all that the adjustment by the Directorate of State, DOS was in fact as a result of a direct order from the highest authority in IPOB hierarchy, and does not in any way suggest compromise or betrayal of the struggle as being insinuated by some uninformed fellows and agent of provocateur.
“Those trying to misconstrue the action of DOS or twist it for ulterior motives may have lost focus of the ultimate objective of the struggle. The derogatory attacks on DOS over this strategic decision are not only embarrassing but very unfortunate.
“How can anyone in his/her wildest imagination contemplate that the DOS can take any action that will or be induced by anybody to sabotage the Biafran struggle? This great IPOB worldwide family, has an undisputable leader in the person of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his order is final. The Directorate of State cannot in good conscience wilfully disobey our leader’s order and at the same time expect Biafrans to obey instructions emanating from the DOS.
“The DOS does not mind being insulted by Biafrans, but one thing that needs to be made clear to IPOB family members worldwide, friends and detractors alike is that the Directorate of State of the Indigenous people of Biafra cannot by any stretch of imagination be compelled or bamboozled into disregarding or disobeying a direct order from our leader.
“The adjustment of the sit-at-home is sacrosanct because the order of Onyendu must be implemented fully. Biafrans and residents of Biafra land are therefore free to go about their legitimate businesses every Monday without fear, intimidation or molestation by anybody. Sit-at-home will be observed only on days our leader will appear in court, and on such other days Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will give the order.
“Biafrans have exhibited time and again their love for the leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra and the 16th of August 2021clearly manifested their readiness to make great sacrifice for the well-being of Onyendu and for our freedom but we must not ignore the admonitions from our leader that discipline has been, is and must remain the key to our victory.”