The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced that it will suspend its agitation if the federal government sets a date to hold a referendum on the secession of the South-East region.
Recall that stakeholders have been clamoring for the restructuring of the country in a bid to calm the tension in the country. But IPOB made its position known in a statement on Monday on the issue of restructuring.
The breakaway agitators said it is not against restructuring, but that “restoration of Biafra state” is the cardinal demand of the group.
The reason according to the secessionist group is that those benefiting from the country’s “lopsidedness” are “unlikely” to heed the clamour for restructuring.
“Nigerian government must bear one thing in mind; IPOB is not fighting restructuring. We are not against restructuring but our demand is not restructuring,” the statement reads.
“Our demand is restoration of Biafra State. All we need is a date for REFERENDUM to decide whether or not we want to continue with this forced marriage.
“Those who think Nigeria is ready for restructuring may have to think again because those benefiting from the current lopsidedness have made restructuring impossible. They are unlikely to heed the clamour for restructuring.
“But for us, the only thing that can make us slow down a little is the government giving us a date for the referendum.
“Restoration of the sovereign State of Biafra is a divine mandate. Our eternal leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu told them in Aburi to restructure Nigeria. They said no and killed millions of Biafrans in the war.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB did not come on board to demand restructuring; we are for total freedom and independence.”
IPOB also reiterated that the sit-at-home order has been suspended while warning those attacking residents of the Southeast in the name of “unknown gunmen” to desist.