You can’t declare Biafra second time, IPOB tells Ekpa’s supporters

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has dismissed the purported declaration of the Biafra Republic by some members of the Simeon Ekpa-led Biafra agitators in Finland as a “scam.”

Dissociating itself from the purported declaration, IPOB stated that there was no room for another Biafra declaration besides the one made by the former warlord Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu in 1967.

A statement by the spokesperson of IPOB, Emma Powerful, yesterday, accused those behind the declaration in Finland of attempting to create more crises in the South-East and divert the attention of Biafrans and those sympathetic to the Biafran struggle.

Powerful, therefore, urged the people to ignore the declaration, accusing the group of being among those sponsoring insecurity in the South-East region.

Powerful said: “The noble family of IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu wishes to disassociate itself from the purported Biafra second declaration by an infamous group. The so-called declaration is a scam. There is no room for another Biafra declaration besides the one our eternal leader, Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu, declared in 1967.

“IPOB wishes to commend responsible media organisations and social media bloggers in Nigeria and in the Diaspora who didn’t give attention to the mockery of the Biafra struggle by infiltrators in Finland and elsewhere. However, it is imperative to inform the international community, Biafrans, friends of Biafra, and lovers of Biafran freedom that Biafra was declared by our eternal leader, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, in 1967.

Meanwhile, the apex pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s controversial tax bills to shore up the nation’s economy.
The organisation also criticised the North over its stance on the bills.

In a statement, yesterday, by its Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze affirmed that it has had remarkable progress, gaining economic empowerment from the Tinubu administration.
The statement reads: “Ohanaeze announces its steadfast endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s proposed tax reform bills.

“This endorsement comes after rigorous reviews, exhaustive consultations with various stakeholders, and an in-depth analysis of the bill’s implications for the Nigerian economic landscape.

“Our comprehensive evaluation has led us to the resolute conclusion that these tax reforms are not merely legislative proposals; they represent a transformative opportunity for the rejuvenation of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the enhancement of the fortunes of Nigerian workers.

“By eliminating the scourge of double taxation imposed by some state governors, these reforms will pave the way for an equitable business climate that significantly elevates local and foreign investment potential.

“The Igbo people, renowned for our entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to economic self-determination, stand to gain immensely from these reforms.

“The proposed measures are expected to safeguard the private sector, mainly benefiting the industrious Igbo who play a pivotal role in driving the Nigerian economy through vibrant SME activities.