The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday said it would address ‘Biafrans’ on January 1.
The group’s main aim is to restore an independent state of Biafra in the Old Eastern Region of Nigeria, comprising mainly today’s Southeast.
The Federal Government had proscribed the group, accusing it of terrorism.
But IPOB claims to be non-violent in its advocacy for a referendum.
In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group said: “We wish to announce to the people of Biafra both home and in the diaspora, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that the able Head of Directorate of State of the Indigenous people of Biafra IPOB, Mazi Chika Edoziem will address Biafrans on Radio Biafra on Saturday 1st of January 2022.
“He will highlight the achievements IPOB has recorded this year, and hint on the roadmaps to our liberation.
“He will also address some pertinent issues pertaining to our struggle for independence.
“IPOB has gone beyond human destruction and it will remain so till Biafra freedom is fully achieved.
“Anybody can say whatever they like IPOB remains unshakable.
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“There is no retreat until Biafra sovereignty is fully restored.
“The broadcast will be simultaneously relayed live through our many channels including IPOB community radio, tuning, radio Biafra FM, Facebook, satellite and others.
“We, therefore, urge everybody to hook on and listen in during the broadcast.
“We also wish to inform Biafrans that Mazi Chinasa Nworu and his crew will also be on Radio Biafra for questions and answer on 30th of December.
“Call in during the live programme for your questions on anything bordering on our independence struggles.”
IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu is on trial over treasonable felony charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since he was brought back to the country.
IPOB claimed Kanu is a victim of extraordinary rendition.
The charges against Kanu read in part:
*Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwidiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi and Kanu, in 2014 and 2015, in Nigeria and London, conspired to broadcast on Radio Biafra their plan to secede from Nigeria and form the Republic of Biafra, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C77 of 2004.
*Kanu illegally smuggled radio transmitters into Nigeria, which he used to disseminate “hate broadcasts”, encouraging the “secession of the Republic of Biafra”, from Nigeria.
*Kanu imported a Radio transmitter known as TRAM 50L, which was concealed in a container that was declared as used household items, to use same to disseminate information about secession plans by the IPOB.
*Kanu, “on or about the 28th April, 2015 in London, United Kingdom did in a broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu state and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, referred to Major General Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a paedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil, knowing same to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C. 38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.
*The defendants committed treasonable felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
*The defendants managed the affairs of the IPOB, “an unlawful society”.
The Nation