The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a stern warning to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, urging him to refrain from any interference in the upcoming selection of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. This admonition comes in light of reports that some members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo are planning a visit to Obasanjo with the intent to solicit his involvement in the election process.
Emma Powerful, the spokesperson for IPOB, emphasized that the upcoming election, scheduled for January 2025, should be exclusively managed by the Ime-Obi, religious leaders, and first-class traditional rulers within Igboland. He stated that it is inappropriate for non-Igbo individuals to intervene in matters that are inherently internal to the Igbo community.
In a press statement, Powerful articulated the organization’s position.
“It is imperative that any individual or group contemplating a visit to Obasanjo for the purpose of influencing the Ohanaeze Ndigbo election must abandon such thoughts. This is not merely a matter of preference; it is a matter of dignity and respect for our cultural heritage. The selection process must be handled by those who understand and represent our interests.”
Powerful further condemned any attempts by external figures to mediate in what he described as a purely Igbo affair. He asserted that historically, there has been no precedent for Yoruba groups seeking Igbo intervention in their own disputes, and thus it would be both shameful and subservient for any Igbo person to seek assistance from Obasanjo.