Ohanaeze Ndigbo Cautions IPOB Against Meddling in Its Affairs

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has warned the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to maintain neutrality and desist from unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of the group.

Ohanaeze described IPOB’s recent actions as troubling, disconcerting, and deserving of outright condemnation, alleging that the group is being misled by individuals benefitting from the prolonged detention of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday by the factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and spokesperson Thompson Ohia, Ohanaeze lamented that some IPOB elements appear to be aligning with forces complicit in Kanu’s incarceration.

The group further alleged that IPOB is now defending certain Igbo leaders who have historically acted against the interests of the pro-Biafra movement.

The statement read in part:
“We cannot overlook the shameful alignment of IPOB with certain Igbo leaders who seem intent on exploiting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a scapegoat for their own ulterior motives. The very individuals responsible for the violence against IPOB members are those whom IPOB now chooses to defend.

“This contradiction not only undermines the integrity of our collective struggle but also diminishes our shared vision for justice and equity.”

Ohanaeze accused unnamed persons within IPOB of attempting to use the group as a tool to blackmail the leadership of the socio-cultural body, warning that the organization would not engage in any media disputes or controversies with IPOB.

The group also advised IPOB to reconsider its alliances, noting that those it currently supports are “enemies” of Kanu and more concerned with photo opportunities at court than with securing his freedom.

“The ongoing violence against innocent youths, unjustly branded as IPOB terrorists, is a direct consequence of this misalignment,” the statement added.

At this critical moment, Ohanaeze urged IPOB and other stakeholders in the South-East to refocus their efforts toward unity and the true enemies of the region.

“Let us collectively strive for a future marked by clarity of purpose, unyielding commitment to justice, and profound respect for the sanctity of our shared heritage,” the statement concluded.