It said the clarification became necessary following reports in the media that it has appointed Edoziem as the acting leader of IPOB.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said Nnamdi Kanu remains its leader, while clarifying that Chika Edoziem serves as the Administrative Head of the global family.
It said the clarification became necessary following reports in the media that it has appointed Edoziem as the acting leader of IPOB.
The Nigerian Government arrested Kanu in Kenya and renditioned him to Nigeria on June 27, 2021, to face charges bordering on treasonable felony. Since his arrest, he has been in the detention facility of the nation's secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS).
Recently, the United Nations body on arbitrary detention and torture condemned the Nigerian government's process of arrest, torture and detention of Kanu. It recommended that the government should release him within six months and pay adequate compensation to the IPOB leader.
SaharaReporters had reported that a Finland-based Nigerian, Prince Simon Ikpa, who claimed to have taken over Radio Biafra from Nnamdi Kanu, last week, announced that IPOB had established Biafra Government In Exile.
But IPOB through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful denied forming any government in exile and asked the public to disregard such information, which he described as fake news.
Powerful said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra (DOS) headed by Mazi Chika Edoziem is at the helm of affairs of the Biafra movement. Whenever our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, comes out, he hands over the IPOB structure back to him.
“The DOS gives letters to our people for asylum, and every government in the world accepts them and grants asylum to such asylum seekers, and they communicate with IPOB. There is no other government more than that."
The group maintained that IPOB had legitimate and well-established institutions and a well-structured administrative hierarchy that oversaw the day-to-day running of its affairs.
IPOB claimed that all diplomatic missions and countries knew about the Biafra agitation and had been communicating with the group.
The group’s statement read in part, “We, the global movement and noble family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to reiterate once again to Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom across the globe that IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu has not set up any Government In Exile (GIE).
“We, therefore, dissociate ourselves completely from the purported government in exile.
“IPOB has legitimate and well-established Institutions and a well-structured administrative hierarchy that oversees the day-to-day running of Biafra affairs.
“Already, all diplomatic missions and countries of the world know about the Biafra agitation and they communicate with IPOB as the responsible authority that oversees the affairs of the Biafran people, be it nationally or internationally.”