IPOB denounces Finland’s “Second Biafra Declaration”

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself from the so-called second Biafra declaration made in Finland, calling it a “shambolic scam” and a “charade.”

The group made its position clear in a statement issued on Sunday, emphasizing that only the original declaration of Biafra’s independence made by the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in 1967 holds legitimacy in the ongoing struggle for Biafra’s sovereignty.

Emma Powerful, IPOB’s spokesman, condemned the Finland event as a fraudulent attempt by a faceless group to exploit the Biafran cause for their personal gain.

The statement categorically rejected any claims of a “second Biafra declaration” and reiterated that IPOB, under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, remains committed to the restoration of Biafra’s sovereignty through a United Nations-supervised referendum, not through declarations made outside the Biafra region.

“The Noble family and movement of IPOB, led by the great and indomitable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu, wishes to disassociate ourselves from the purported Biafra second declaration by an infamous no-name group.

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The so-called declaration is a scam,” Powerful said in the statement. He emphasized that no one has the authority to declare Biafra a second time, asserting that the declaration made by Ojukwu in 1967 remains the only legitimate declaration of Biafran independence.

IPOB’s response also called attention to the role of media outlets and bloggers who refused to amplify the claims of the Finland group, thanking them for ignoring what IPOB described as an attempt to undermine the authentic Biafra struggle.

“We commend responsible media organizations that didn’t give attention to the mockery of the Biafra struggle by infiltrators in Finland and elsewhere,” the statement read.

The IPOB leadership further criticized those involved in the Finland declaration, accusing them of being agents provocateurs who have historically attempted to infiltrate and destabilize the organization.

According to Powerful, some of these individuals have worked against IPOB’s cause in the past, trying to coerce its leadership into a premature and unnecessary second declaration of Biafra, which Mazi Nnamdi Kanu consistently rejected.

“These unscrupulous elements went to Finland for what they called a Biafra declaration outside the Biafra territory. Their agenda is to destabilize the Southeast, divide the people, and distract Biafrans from the genuine struggle,” Powerful stated.

He added that these individuals have failed in their mission, and their event was ignored by responsible media as a result.

The statement also touched on the ongoing tensions in the Southeast, with IPOB accusing the Finland group of being involved in the instability and insecurity in the region.

“Those involved in the event in Finland were among the sponsors of insecurity in the Southeast Region,” said Powerful. “Their aim was to divert attention from the genuine Biafra struggle.”