The Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) has banned any form of celebrations on Nigeria’s independence day across all southeastern states in the country.
Nigeria gained independence on October 1st 1960 and will be marking its 63 anniversary on Monday October 2nd as the D-day falls on a Sunday.
However, Emma Powerful, IPOB’s spokesman called on all Igbos in the country to shun the Independence Day celebration in the region.
According to powerful, the Nigerian state detests Igbos and has rejected all efforts to treat people of the Southeast equally.
Powerful made this known via a statement on Friday in Enugu.
He urged state governors and political leaders to shun the October 1st independence day celebration across the Southeast.
The statement reads in part: “The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the Supreme leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU hereby call on Biafrans both home and in diaspora to shun participation in the Nigeria Independent day celebration on 1st October 2023.
“Every sensible Biafra citizen must understand that Nigeria detests Biafrans, particularly Ndigbo. Nigeria has rejected all our efforts to be treated as equal citizens. Nigeria has marginalized Biafrans politically and economically. Since Nigeria has rejected us, we have also rejected Nigeria and her celebrations.
“The Nigeria Government and Nigeria citizens have time after time demonstrated that we are not part of them, and therefore, we must do everything possible to liberate ourselves from the bondage of Nigeria. Even a fool would have come to the realization that Nigeria is not for Ndigbo and Biafrans after the shenanigan that they called 2023 elections.
“As Nigeria’s government plans to celebrate her flag Independence from Britain, we advise Eastern Region Governors and Political leaders to shun the October 1st Independence celebration in our region. Moreso, we advise Biafrans not to attend any Independence celebration anywhere within Biafra territory or outside of it.
“Hence, IPOB has banned the Independence Day celebration and flying of Nigeria flags in any part of Biafraland on October 1st, 2023.”