Leaders of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) have stepped up preparations on the proposed visit of some United States Congressmen to Nigeria who are on a fact-finding mission concerning the agitation for the Biafra State.
The IPOB leaders which rejected the Ohanaeze leadership as its representatives in the talks with the Congressmen, have accordingly named some elder statesmen as their negotiators with the American lawmakers. They include;
1. Second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme
2. Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku
3. Constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze.
4. Publisher, award winning author and political scientist, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo
5. Archbishop of Assumpta Cathedral in Owerri, Archbishop Anthony Obinna
6. Commander in the Biafran Army, Major General Alex Madiebo (rtd).
In a press statement, IPOB spokesmen, Emma Nmezu, and Dr. Clifford Iroanya, said that the elder statesmen were chosen based on their antecedents as 'elders of proven integrity who will not compromise the interest of the people for personal gains.'
The statement read in part: "We chose them as credible elders who will speak the truth without being easily compromised. All over the world, fact-finders meet with people of impeccable pedigree and not political contractors like Ohanaeze and similar groups."
IPOB explained that it decided to make public the names of the authorised individuals who could enter into any negotiation on its behalf following reports of attempts by some unauthorised and self-seeking individuals and groups to hijack the visit of the US Congressmen for their pecuniary motives.
The group urged the US Congress delegation to beware of impostors and ensure they only deal with the right persons.
Nmezu said: "It has come to the notice of IPOB that some selfish individuals who deliberately misconstrue our genuine intentions towards the restoration of Biafra are busy parading themselves as elders or custodians of our present agitation.
"Once again, we have been reliably informed that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has once again hijacked the proposed visit of the US Congressmen to Biafraland thereby positioning themselves as the mouthpiece of IPOB which is blatantly false.
"We have not mandated this group called Ohanaeze to represent IPOB in any capacity. That US Congressmen are in Biafraland today is as a result of the hard work of IPOB all over the world in lobbying them.
"If anyone is concerned about the plight of Ndigbo they should initiate an action plan with the intention of addressing them, not waiting for the blood of Biafrans to be shed so they can emerge to pontificate on the way forward. IPOB would like the world to know that we have credible traditional rulers, elder statesmen and respectable Biafrans capable of representing IPOB at these talks with the Americans," he said.
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