IPOB Teaches Gov. Okowa History, Says Biafra Existed Before Nigeria

The self-proclaimed Customary Government of Indigneous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday frowned on the statement credited to the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, that Delta State is not part of Biafra.

Governor Okowa had last week warned pro-Biafra agita­tors that no part of his state was part of the Biafran republic be­ing canvassed, nor would he cede any part of Delta State either, to the cause.

A statement signed by the IPOB media representative, As­uzu Chinedu Peters, advised Gov­ernor Okowa to stop re-writing history and misleading the public.

He said that Okowa was not speaking for the people of Delta but for himself and probably for some cabals as Biafra existed be­fore Nigeria.

The statement read in part: “Governor Okowa’s position is unfortunate and misleading and could not represent the opinion of millions of Delta people spread across the world.

“As far as we are concerned, Governor Okowa is speaking for himself and few cabal(s) in Delta State eating fat from the blood of the poor masses.

“We want to remind governor Okowa that Biafra has existed be­fore Lord Lugard founded Nige­ria. The decision on who joins the new Biafra should not be made by the governor but by the people of which majority are hungry and poor.

“Going down the historical lane, Nigeria was created out of three main Kingdoms (nations) as clearly shown in Maps of Af­rica before Berlin Conference 0f 1884-1885 (the place where Afri­can boundaries were destroyed).

“The three Kingdoms are Bi­afra, Benin and Zamfara. Gover­nor Okowa should go and study the map of Africa before 1884, to advise himself before making pub­lic pronouncement on Biafra issue.

“The British had the Protector­ate of Biafra with its headquarters at Fernando Po and Protectorate of Benin before 1914.We want to re­store our indigenous identity and jettison the creation of white men.

“It is also important to clarify that the people of Delta State have inalienable human right to agitate for self-determination outside or inside Nigeria.

“The Customary Government of Biafra has been on the forefront of the struggle to achieve Biafra through the due process of both local and international Laws.

“For the sake of clarity, the court case with Suit No FHC/OW/CS/192/2013 in Federal High Court, Owerri between IPOB and Federal Government of Nigeria is still on course.

“Our ideology and adopted road map for pursuing and achiev­ing self-determination for Biafra hinge on Rule of law, Diplomacy, Civil Rights (Human Rights Move­ment), Mass Media, Political, and every other legitimate process,” As­uzu Chinedu Peters concluded.

Governor Okowa had earlier said that “Delta State has never been, and is not part of the South East.”

He said advised pro-Biafra ag­itators who want Delta State to be part of Biafra Republic to forget their ambition because no part of the state will be ceded to the pro­posed Republic.

The governor said although  certain parts of the state speak sim­ilar language with leaders of the Bi­afra State promoters, “this does not mean that Delta has become part of the struggle or the South East region.”

He narrated how Delta was formerly a part of the then Mid-Western Region, then the defunct Bendel State, before it was created alongside Edo State.

According to Okowa, “Bia­fra agitation, we criticise it. Anio­ma land as it is was part of Bendel State; we were part of the Mid-West State, we have not been part of the South East. So obviously, we can­not be said to be part of them (Bi­afra). We may speak a similar lan­guage, but we are not part of the South East. We were part of the Mid-West, now we are Deltans