Apex Igbo cultural organization of Igbo speaking people, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has said that the proscribed Igbo separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has no mandate to speak for the people of the Southeast region.
This is coming on the heels of the ban, by the IPOB, on movement of cows from the Northern part of the country to the East.
The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Professor George Obiozor, who was a guest on a political programme on Arise TV yesterday evening, January 7, said that though IPOB’s anger was based on the injustice against Igbos over the years, but that such situation does not give them the “mandate to speak for the entire people of the South-East.”
Obiozor, while reacting to angry and ‘inciting’ responses credited to some Northern groups over the IPOB ban, cautioned both sides to be careful in their comments so as not to throw the country into another chaotic situation.
“Take it from me and it is the right statement: IPOB doesn’t speak for Igbo and that is the truth.
“To be very candid with you, the IPOB anger is an accumulated anger based on perceived or real injustice against Ndigbo for so long.
“We understand their anger and the anger of many youths across the country.
“However, the truth of the matter is that they are not mandated to speak for Ndigbo.”
Obiozor said that the responses of some people in the North to the IPOB threats were also inciting.
