August 08, (THEWILL) – South-east separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has announced Chika Edoziem as its new acting leader.
IPOB said Edoziem would pilot its affairs until its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is released.
Kanu is currently detained by the Department of State Services (DSS). The DSS has held the IPOB leader since he was re-arrested and repatriated from Kenya on June 27, 2021, to face charges bordering on treasonable felony.
A statement by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said Edoziem would relinquish the leadership role to Kanu when he is released.
The pro-Biafra group denied forming any government in exile, asking the public to disregard such information, describing it as fake news.
The group maintained that IPOB had legitimate and well-established institutions and a well-structured administrative hierarchy that oversees the day-to-day running of its affairs; adding that all diplomatic missions and countries knew about the Biafra agitation and that they had been communicating with the group.
The statement reads partly: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra (DOS), headed by Mazi Chika Edoziem, is at the helm of affairs of the Biafra movement; whenever our leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU comes out, he hands over IPOB structure back to him.
“We, the global movement and noble family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), under Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to reiterate once again to Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom across the globe that IPOB, led by Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu has not set up any Government In Exile (GIE).
“We, therefore, dissociate ourselves completely from the purported government in exile.
“IPOB has legitimate and well-established Institutions and a well-structured administrative hierarchy that oversees the day-to-day running of Biafra affairs.
“Already, all diplomatic missions and countries of the world know about the Biafra agitation and they communicate with IPOB as the responsible authority that oversees the affairs of the Biafran people, be it nationally or internationally.
“The DOS gives letters to our people for asylum, and every government in the world accepts them and grants asylum to such asylum seekers, and they communicate with IPOB. There is no other government more than that.”
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