The National leader of the outlawed indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on Friday berated detractors accusing him of drawing a map of Biafran land.
The leader of the group, Kanu cautioned detractors to desist from misinforming and deceiving the general public.
He gave the warning in a statement signed by Emma Powerful and made available to journalists in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
The statement reads in parts: “Our attention has been drawn to the blackmail being sponsored by our detractors that IPOB has drawn the Biafra map. We, therefore, want to debunk such fallacious narrative. We did not draw any Biafra map.
“We understand that some people in the coastal region of Biafra are misinformed and deceived with false information that IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu and Igbo have drawn the map of Biafra. It is false and intended to set us against ourselves. The issue of the Biafra map should not generate any heat because we know ourselves.
“Igbo people never conquered any tribe in the old Eastern region because our fathers saw themselves as one family, and today IPOB and Nnamdi KANU have towed the peaceful steps and accommodating spirits of our fathers. Being part of BIAFRA will never be by coercion but a voluntary matter through referendum.
“Any tribe or ethnicity who doesn’t want to be part of Biafra will never be forced to do so. Such tribes are free to go on their own but you must conduct a referendum for your people to decide their fate on the agitation for Biafra.
“We can attest that Igbo people never fought against any tribe in olden days because Igbo believe in (Onyeaghala Nwanne ya and Ibiri Kamu biri) (live and let live). Again Ijaw tribe and other tribes in the old Eastern region including Mid Western region are Igbo brothers and sisters today, tomorrow and forever.
“Igbo are not going to force anybody or tribe to join the fight for Biafra freedom. Let every tribe try what they can to wake up for their freedom because freedom is good and remains the best for all of us.
“No tribe in the old Eastern region and Western region should allow themselves to be deceived because Nnamdi KANU and IPOB did not draw any map for Biafra. Instead, we are staking our precious lives for all and it is the sacrifice we ought to pay for the realization of our freedom and independence.
“We are staking all we have for this freedom project, without Igbo tribe being in the forefront of this struggle the struggle would have been a thing of the past and we must continue until freedom is totally achieved” the group stated.
