Biafra: IPOB Alleges ‘Real Reason’ For Closure Of South-South Seaports

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Monday alleged that the real reason for the closure of the seaports in the South-South (Warri, Calabar, and Port Harcourt seaports) was to strangulate the economy of South-East, known for commerce and industry.

In a statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, quoting its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the group demands the reopening of Warri, Calabar and Port Harcourt seaports, describing their continued closure as one of the injustices it has been fighting.

IPOB berated people it called ‘traitors’ from South-East and South-South, who it alleged are hiding under the name of one pro-Biafra group or another to castigate IPOB, saying its intention is to liberate all Biafra territories.

The statement said: “IPOB is about the liberation of all Biafra territories. Only mischief makers will imply otherwise.

“Yet, some people from the coastal part of Biafraland will beat their chest to admit to working towards one Nigeria and foolishly channel their grievances against the same IPOB that is trying to save all of us.

“These traitors hiding under the name of one pro-Biafra group or another cleverly forgot that their masters in the Federal Government have reached an agreement to build a dry port worth $250 million in Ibadan, while Igweocha a city the British colonial masters renamed Port Harcourt in Rivers State has no functional port.

“It is on record that I have consistently asked for the reopening of Warri, Calabar and Igweocha seaports.

“For those accusing us of making IPOB an Igbo affair, Warri is not in Igboland, neither is Calabar, but as anyone in the know will testify, I have always insisted these demands of reopening South-South seaports, be met before any formal dialogue can take place.

“It was not a Biafran or Igboman that killed Ken Saro Wiwa, neither was it an Igbo man that killed Adaka Boro. Why is it that Yoruba that support northern hegemony gets everything whereas the governing elite of the coastal region loyal to the North cannot attract the same level of interest?

“A new mega-seaport is being built in Badagry to add to Tin Can and Apapa Wharfs but South-South seaports were closed down to strangulate the economy of Biafra.

“They have railway lines crisscrossing the entire West, but there is nothing in our land (South South and South East).”

“Where are the Fulani approved elites in the South-South or the Arewa Consultative Forum anointed leaders of South-East? Don’t we have resources for a Seaport site?, yet $250m will be spent to build an artificial one.”

These traitors will not fight their oppressor, but are comfortably happy to accept crumbs falling off the master’s table to fight IPOB, that is fighting to liberate them. I have never and will never collect money from anyone to sell or compromise our puritanical stance because unlike these stomach infrastructure agitators, I will sacrifice anything sacrificeable to get Biafra.

“I rejected every financial inducement when I was incarcerated and detained in Kuje, I would not insult myself by accepting anything from anybody now. I want to tell Ohaneze Ndigbo leaders, Igbo governors, PANDEF leaders and every other meaningless ‘settle me and my boys groups’ out there that our problem is their lack of patriotic discipline and weak mindedness. IPOB has gone way too far in this effort to restore Biafra.

“The jihadist Arewa core north have given N100 billion to Fulani Herdsmen killers, but how to stop 30th May Biafra Heroes Remembrance Day, is of paramount issue to Igbo politicians. Is this not the height of misplaced priorities?

“It’s a shame to the Old Eastern region, how the North keeps on messing with our brain because some people cannot afford to resist financial inducement. They keep on fooling our so called leaders and disgracing them out of power in the end.

“The level of humiliation and marginalization is now a shame to our region. What a shame…look at how Okoroawusa is being disgraced from pillar to post after serving his Fulani kinsmen. His only mistake is that he has an Igbo name. They have even forgotten that he is one of them. That is the extent of their hatred for anything Biafra.”