KEY POINTS

• Niger Delta has been included in IPOB’s alleged plans for Biafra which PANDEF rejects.
• IPOB insists on peaceful advocacy and referendum but denies coercion.
• PANDEF asks for a united Nigeria on equity and resource control.

On Wednesday, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) traded barbs over IPOB’s alleged inclusion of Niger Delta territories in its campaign for the creation of Biafra.

In reaction, the National Youth Leader of PANDEF, Donben Donyegha, in a statement in Port Harcourt, described what PANDEF had to say was about Biafra, stressing that the group remained committed to a Nigeria of equity, justice and resource control.

Donyegha, in his statement, said it is provocative and insulting to include Niger Delta communities in the IPOB’s plans to claim Niger Delta territories as part of Biafra.

Therefore, we therefore warn that the continued inclusion of PANDEF areas or communities into the so called Biafra Republic is provocative.

We the youths will resist with all we have any further attempt to disregard or belittle our leaders and fathers by saying the Niger Delta towns or territories are part of Biafra. He declared Niger Delta is not Biafra.

IPOB dismisses coercion claims

Reacting to PANDEF statement, IPOB’s spokesperson Emma Powerful denied the allegations as baseless and attributed it to misinformation from the splinter group. He said that IPOB will pursue peaceful advocacy and does not use force to bring communities to its side.

“We at IPOB are not one of the group compelling any community in Nigeria to key into Biafra state,” he said. ‘We haven’t seen anyone committing these acts in the name of Biafra — content creators from the autopilot group from Finland and not IPOB.’ he said.

IPOB’s emphasis is on achieving independence through a peaceful means, also a referendum where people are at liberty to choose their affiliation, IPOB’s powerful said.

Powerful added: “When referendum comes, people decide what they want – no one can force people into the new nation called Biafra.”

He further pleaded restraint and called on media outlets not to conflate IPOB with fringe elements, pointing out that IPOB’s ambitions were peaceful and independence through resolution.