Those accustomed to the Christian Bible will bear me witness on the powerful excerpts bordering on the cornerstone. Do I start by asking civil engineers, building experts, bricklayers and their cohorts the importance of a cornerstone in a building? No, let us go spiritual all the way, because Chukwu Okike Abiama, the God of Biafra, is spirit and demands his adherents to worship him in spirit. When Mazi Nnamdi Kanu proclaims the indispensability and interconnectivity of Indigenous People Of Biafra and IPOBIANS to Elohim, you will begin to understand why the enemy is so much afraid and jittery. Many have said a lot about IPOB in a disparaging manner, and there are unprintable words. Some called Ipobians illiterates, inconsequential, terrorists and more. But I laugh. Indeed, that makes the grandson of Uyokanjo laugh. However, at the Sunday-2nd-July Radio Biafra Facebook virtual worship centre platform, Victor Igwebuike Nwankwo described the IPOB leader as the true Igodomigodo, who holds the key that unlocks other keys, including a listener’s sense of reasoning. If you read my writings, you will begin to acknowledge why I always say that the idiosyncrasy of a leader guides his organization. Perhaps, you may have followed Nnamdi Kanu long enough. Then you will see a clearer picture of IPOB lifecycle, especially its metamorphosis from ‘a domestic kitten to a big cat’. The ‘kitten to big cat’ journey can be likening to the proverbial cornerstone. In the Bible, there are seven verses on the cornerstone, starting from the book of Isaiah 28:16, which says ‘‘Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed'”. Other six verses include, Psalm 118:22, Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:6, 1 Peter 2:7, Ephesians 2:19-22, and 1 Peter 2:5-6. Like IPOB, most of us have become cornerstones in our marriages, families, villages, towns, workplaces and more, having passed through the corridors of neglect and despair. We have lost a lot like IPOB before reaching this stage, and we are still losing, being the chief cornerstone. But I tell you most solemnly, it is special for you to give than to receive, and that is why givers never lack. Sacrifice and giving is leadership, for the core thrust of the latter is others first, self last. So, why is IPOB the cornerstone? Come with me.
Ever since the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu led IPOB ignited the renewed momentum we have on the restoration of Biafra, I have likened it to the ‘Age of Enlightenment’ for Africa. I call it ‘A New Age of Biafra’, which in actual sense, is an era which will eventually usher in light into our dark continent. In the last edition of our rising news magazine, I wrote about -Why Africa needs Biafra – introducing the piece with reviews from Emefiena Ezeani’s In Biafra Africa Died. The reviews dealt on the gross injustice against the short lived country. And what happened to Biafra, where a global conspiracy. Historically, the Age of Enlightenment is also known as the Age of Reason. It was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. Schools of thought have attributed different activities that suit them within that time frame at the beginning of the era. During this period of enlightenment in Europe, Philosophers, and Scientists widely circulated their ideas through formal and informal meetings at scientific academies, Masonic lodges, literary salons, coffee houses and in printed pamphlets, books and journals. Revolutionary Ideas of this era undermined the absolute authorities of the monarchical system and even the Catholic Church. The rise of enlightenment during this era paved the way for the political revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries across Europe. A variety of 19th-century movements, including liberalism and neoclassicism, trace their intellectual heritage to the Enlightenment.
In this particular thesis, I intend looking at the inception of the Indigenous People of Biafra, their aims and objective, its modus operandi and why it is now the cornerstone.
‘’Biafra is our religion and here on Radio Biafra is where we worship, because Chukwu Okike Abiama is our God’’, this epilogue from the thunderous voice of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu circumferences IPOB in every sense and defines it. Actually, the interpretation is more than the ear can hear. As an editor, I am privy to information about the earlier existence of the Indigenous People of Biafra that took the Nigeria Government to court. However, the arrival of Kanu’s IPOB changed the whole equation and added momentum to the demands of Biafrans across the world. Like I usually say that the beauty of Igbo philosophy is that anybody can be great, Nnamdi Kanu and the new IPOB, which he founded, started from humble beginning behind the Radio Biafra microphone, their lectern or altar. In entrenching the new IPOB as the catalyst for what is to come around Africa, it started from the pulpit of Radio Biafra. The Kanu style was different to what is obtainable, as there were no holds bare to his verbal tirade against corrupt leaders, especially those of his Igbo nation, who have connived with victors of the Biafra/Nigeria war. Having come off MASSOB, of which Ralph Uwazurike founded, he learnt some of the colossal mistakes made by the latter. I will not be writing about these mistakes here, but Nnamdi Kanu showed knack and sincerity in the struggle, coupled with the fact that he remains uncompromising with truth. All these added to the fact that he has the spiritual authority, which I have personally seen, but many have not. Having taken off with powerful verbal vituperation of criminal elites in broadcasts, he started mobilizing the strong Diaspora, who form the backbone of Biafra. It was out of these Diasporas that IPOB was originally built from.
IPOB’s support base has grown in recent times to include people from the Igbo, Ibibio, Anang, Igala, Ijaw, Efik, Esan, Idoma, Igodomigodo and their kith and kin nations. With the courage of IPOB, Nigerians are beginning to have the audacity to challenge the status quo, seeing the sporadic verbal shots coming out from other sections of the country, which hitherto, were in favour of what late Fela Anikulapo called ‘Siddon de look’. Although the primary aim of IPOB is to restore the Biafra Republic through the instrument of referendum, but It has gained significant attention for becoming a thorn in the flesh of the President Buhari regime over Fulani Herdsmen killing spree, endemic corruption, nepotism, flagrant abuse of human rights and the quiet genocide against Christians in the middle belt, particularly Kaduna. Frequent crackdowns and extra-judicial murders by the Nigeria government over agitations and peaceful protests have helped IPOB garner public sympathy, and the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu by the Department of State Services on October 19, 2015, helped shape the fortunes of the freedom fighting organisation in the public conscience.
Having spent over a year in the DSS dungeon, Kanu on November 8, 2016, was charged for criminal conspiracy, membership of an illegal organization and intimidation. He was later granted bail on April 2017 after an unprecedented bail bond because of health concerns that the judge said needed better medical attention that couldn’t be provided by the prison. However, as part of the condition of bail, he was barred from granting interviews, meeting in groups larger than ten individuals, organizing and attending rallies or social functions. Fortunately, Kanu disappeared into thin air after September 2017 when the Army invaded his father’s palace in Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia, wherein 28 people were killed. While speculations from different quarters threw up conspiracies on his death and where-about, he surfaced in Israel, and increased the momentum IPOB had gathered for the restoration of Biafra via broadcasts on Radio Biafra.
Coupled with a few other factors, these activities in the timeline above shaped IPOB into a force they are today. Recently, the Buhari government, which has turned a blind eye to the Fulani quiet genocide against the people of southern Kaduna and middle belt, released a statement against IPOB, as the latter piled up diplomatic pressure against them in the United States. Beside their main aim of restoring Biafra through referendum, IPOB’s job portfolio has currently been widened by Fulani reckless and murderous nature. Taking advantage of their kinsman Buhari’s incapacitation in power and Nigerians fright, a Fulani cabal took hold of power and they have empowered murderous groups like Miyetti Allah with State resources to kill and intimidate all standing against their tribal agenda. Intelligence reports also reveal that the military hierarchy are sabotaging efforts to combat Boko Haram, instead reabsorbing captured insurgents into the Armed Forces. A statement from Shehu Garba, who is one of the Buhari presidency spokespersons, speaks volume about IPOB doing the job of the Christian Association of Nigeria. Honestly IPOB has become a thorn in the flesh for the administration since 2015.
IPOB have adopted unconventional tactics in most of its operations and it has ensured success despite growing efforts to sabotage their campaign. Like in history, most potent revolutions are planned abroad due to limited risks. IPOB has put to use the strength of the Diaspora population of Biafra citizens who are fed up with the hopeless situation in Nigeria. The fact is that millions of the Diaspora drives the organisation financially and otherwise. An added advantage is that Biafrans abroad can finance this restoration struggle if they are well mobilised by IPOB even if the situation degenerates into conflict, despite the broad daylight embezzlement among members of the Fulani cabal. IPOB has globalized the campaign through the establishment of families or cells in every available community around the world where Biafrans dwell. This effort further puts the enemies of the restoration project in bad light as IPOB families are part of their local community. The IPOB social media chain has been an efficient tool putting enemies of restoration efforts on the edge. After the civil war between Nigeria and Biafra, lots of lies were told against the latter especially the Igbo by the military hierarchy with the help of the British government and those benefitting from Biafra oil. IPOB is very effective with the social media, and slowly, but consistently tying the noose on Nigeria’s neck.
However, the criticism may be growing against the Indigenous People of Biafra {IPOB}, the fact is that they are permeating into more homes and unfriendly territories. The status quo is being rattled and nerves have begun to shake. As the proverb says ‘Truth is like a surgery, it hurts, but cures. Lies are like a painkiller. It gives instant relief, but has side effects forever’, IPOB is destroying Nigeria with immaculate facts while the country is headed for doom. There have been a litany of mortal sins Nigeria has indulged in since the end of the war in 1970, and the current Buhari regime has been exposed and caught napping on many fronts. From endemic corruption to administrative ineptitude, Fulani foolery, Islamisation, and land grab. From its Radio Biafra pulpit, the quiet genocide against middle belters and Christian communities are top on the agenda. The hypocrisy of elites and Nigerians get weekly knocks from Radio Biafra with a desired result of general sensitization. The knacks for truth has led IPOB delve into history, enlightenment and what I call Renaissance classes for the average black man and woman.
In conclusion, IPOB has become the driver for freedom for people trapped in a failed country arranged by the British imperialists and handed over to spendthrift bootlickers called Fulani. In today’s Nigeria, death occurs in hundreds daily by the failure of a Fulani government to implement law and order. Fulani takes responsibility because they have seized all levers of government, especially security and finance, where they are preparing gradually the influx of Islamic extremists and their kith and kin from other West African countries. As spendthrifts, they are borrowing to stupor, and funding sabotage against any planned resistance to their ultimate takeover of the Nigeria territory. So when we remember the euphemism of ’Dipping the Koran in the sea’, it is the quest to own from the Sahel desert of the north to the rainforests of the south, up till the southeast end of the Atlantic Ocean. With the dormant nature and misplaced priorities of the people that live in this failed country called Nigeria, the Fulani dream is a forgone reality, but since the rise of IPOB, that plan is now Herculean. Even if we all hate IPOB, they have achieved one thing: Sensitizing all to the realities of today’s dangers. Love or hate IPOB, the fact is that it is the ultimate friend of any freedom loving person or people living in Nigeria. Imagine taking off as a vehicle moving to restore Biafra, IPOB is today indirectly solving puzzles that include: Death of Patrick Yakowa, former Governor and thousands butchered in broad daylight and secretly in Kaduna and the middle belt, funding of Boko Haram, Fulanisation, Islamisation and southern idiocy etc. Who is bold enough to consistently enlighten with truth like IPOB? Remember the proverb about giving the dog a bad name in order to hang it. Yes, many hate IPOB because Nnamdi Kanu, an Igbo is involved, but the same organisation has made many to start talking, even in the north. Rejected at first, but now the cornerstone if you truly hunger for freedom. It is time to cast aside the cloak of pride and support the Indigenous People of Biafra for the ultimate goal of freedom and restoration of the dignity of the blackman.
Ukachukwu Okorie is the editor-in-chief of The African International
