TheCable

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has commended Afenifere apex Yoruba socio-cultural group, for speaking up against Operation Python Dance.

The army had said it launched the operation in the south-eastern region of the country to curb kidnapping and other crimes.

But IPOB disagreed, alleging that the operation was targeted at Nnamdi Kanu, the group’s leader, and members of the body.

The group clashed with the military, which later declared it a terrorist outift, while the five governors of south-east states, proscribed the group.

In a statement on Monday, Emma Powerful, spokesman of IPOB, thanked Afenifere “for their firm and decisive stance against the overwhelming tide of tyrannical oppression and genocide against the people of Biafra”.

Powerful said their condemnation of the army’s operation in the south-east has earned them an enduring legacy which history would never forget.

“The Afenifere and Yoruba council of elders and other outspoken leaders of south-west collective and individual condemnation of the Operation Python Dance II, staged by the present All Progressives Congress (APC) regime to suppress legitimate agitation for freedom through intimidation, slaughter of the innocent and military occupation has earned them an enduring legacy which history will never forget,” the statement by Powerful read.

“IPOB under Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not disturbed by the terrorising activities of the present administration against his members, but maintained that it must achieve Biafra through non-violence approached we have maintained.

“We, the Indigenous People of Biafra worldwide under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu commend and thank the apex Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere, Yoruba elders council and other outspoken leaders from the west, for their firm and decisive stance against the overwhelming tide of tyrannical oppression and genocide against the people of Biafra.

“You rose up to condemn evil and their supporting well-oiled propaganda machinery that sought to turn the truth upside down and make people believe that light is now darkness and darkness light.

“Your collective and individual condemnation of the Operation Python Dance II, staged by the present APC regime to suppress legitimate agitation for freedom through intimidation, slaughter of the innocent and military occupation has earned you an enduring legacy which history will never forget.”

He said by speaking in their defence, Afenifere has shown that agitation is not a crime.

“We also commend those men and women of good conscience from across all ethnic divides in Nigeria and across the globe that condemned the genocidal campaign of this Buhari regime against innocent civilian populations across Biafra land,” it read.

“With this public display of courage, we are hopeful that many more courageous men and women across West Africa and Africa, in general, will rise up against this APC tyranny and oppression in black Africa as other races have managed to do.

“With this, IPOB worldwide will remain steadfast and committed to the pursuit of the finest ideals of liberation to set free all oppressed and marginalised people in Nigeria and beyond.

“If IPOB worldwide is a terrorist organisation, all the freedom fighting groups in the world are terrorist groups. We must all stand firm now to confront and challenge this oppressive dictatorial regime of the present APC government because ultimately power belongs to the people not to the bigoted few.”