TheCable

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has described itself as the “biggest mass movement anywhere on earth”, vowing to retain its name.

In a statement on Friday, the group said the proscription by the federal government cannot force it to operate under a new name.

IPOB accused the government of working with some notable groups in the region to “give the impression that IPOB is no more”.

“We the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its leadership worldwide under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the prophet our time, wish to bring to the attention of Biafrans and the world at large that IPOB has never and will never change name because of kangaroo and black market order obtained from a federal high court Abuja,” read the statement by Emma Powerful, spokesman of the group.

“It came to our knowledge that some unscrupulous individuals and groups in our society have been paid by federal government, Igbo governors and Ohaneze Ndigbo led by Nnia Nwodo to form another group.

“There is no such organisation in place of IPOB.

“The fact of the matter is that the federal government, in collusion with Igbo governors, are using some individuals to give the impression that IPOB is no more.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. Our protests going on all over the world is clear evidence that IPOB is presently enjoying more appeal than at any other time in our history.

“Many more scams like this will be unleashed on the gullible in the coming weeks and months but we are not perturbed because we have machinery in place to debunk such nonsense as they arise.

“People are flooding to IPOB that remains till this day, the biggest mass movement anywhere on earth.

“The federal government, Igbo governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo may form these mushroom groups once in a while but they quickly fizzle out as they came.”