The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself from the recent declaration of the “United States of Biafra” made during a convention held in Lahti, Finland, which was organized by supporters of Simon Ekpa.
In a statement released on Saturday, IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, rejected any affiliation with the event, labeling those backing Ekpa’s faction as “criminals” engaged in “illegal activities” that seek to destabilize and destroy their homeland. The declaration of the “United States of Biafra” was made at the convention organized by Dr. Ngozi Orabueze, who introduced herself as the Chief of Staff of this new entity, and the convener of the “Biafra Declaration of the Restoration of the United States of Biafra Convention 2024.”
Videos from the event, which spread rapidly on social media, showed attendees waving Biafran flags and chanting slogans, leading to widespread attention. However, IPOB vehemently disassociated itself from the declaration, clarifying that it does not recognize or support Ekpa’s factional activities. Powerful emphasized that IPOB had no involvement in the convention or any such declarations. He firmly stated, “IPOB has no involvement in any conference. Those people (Ekpa’s faction) are criminals supporting illegal activities to destroy our land. There is no such thing as a declaration of Biafra from our side. Any claim that IPOB is hosting a conference is false. When IPOB decides to make such an important announcement, the whole world will know. Those making such statements are fake.”
In response to the declaration, Sunday Edeson, a spokesperson for the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), commented that while IPOB’s success in achieving Biafran sovereignty would be welcomed by MASSOB, declaring independence outside the borders of Nigeria was ultimately meaningless unless accompanied by practical changes. Edeson pointed out that although the declaration was made in Finland, Nigeria still maintains full control over Biafra territory, including its currency, security agencies, and governance structures. He said, “Everyone has the right to declare. They declared their freedom in Finland, but we know that we’re still under Nigerian leadership. We support them. Declaring independence in Finland doesn’t mean we’re free from the Nigerian government. We still use Nigerian currency, and security agencies are still from Nigeria. So, we’re still under Nigeria’s control.”
This response highlights the ongoing division among pro-Biafra groups regarding the most effective strategy for achieving independence, with some factions emphasizing practical measures, while others continue to seek international recognition of their claims.
