We want referendum not asylum, IPOB tells UK

THE Indigenous People of Biafran (IPOB) has said its sole objective is to leave the union known as Nigeria and become recognised as Sovereign State of Biafra.

The secessionist group said all it wants is a referendum on self-determination for the people of South-East of Nigeria and not asylum.

IPOB said this in response to the new guidelines by the UK Visas and Immigration on how to treat asylum applications by members of Biafran secessionist group.

In the guidelines, asylum is to be granted to “persecuted” members of the proscribed IPOB and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

The decision, however, did not go down well with the Federal Government which said it is disrespectful to Nigeria as a sovereign entity and undermines its fight against insecurity.

But in a statement yesterday, Emma Powerful, Publicity Secretary of IPOB said while the group appreciates the gesture from the UK, granting asylum to its members is like a red-herring to distract it from its main objective, noting that only referendum will make it stop its agitation.

“We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great and indomitable leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has noted with satisfaction the news that the United Kingdom has agreed to grant asylum to persecuted Biafra agitators resident in the UK,” he said.

“While we commend them for this bold initiative, we wish to most graciously remind them that what we Biafrans need and cherish the most is referendum and not asylum in the UK.

“We are tired of living in bondage in the devilish contraption called Nigeria they single-handedly created.

“We would not wish our children, now and generations unborn, to share the same geo-political space with those that reward terrorists and criminalize law abiding citizens.

“We particularly thank the UK government for confirming what the rest of the civilized world already know that the great IPOB worldwide family are not terrorists but peaceful agitators and freedom fighters.

“That Nigeria is a country run by terrorists for the benefit of terrorists has been confirmed by this noble move by the United Kingdom.

“Aso Rock, the seat of power in Nigeria is a terrorist haven with serving ministers who are openly sympathetic to terrorists and their activities coming and going as they please, while freedom fighters are languishing in jail. We want freedom not asylum.”