Nnamdi Kanu,
leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), says he was made an offer in
detention to secede with the five Igbo states but that he rejected the offer
because it did not constitute the complete territory of Biafra.
“They gave
me Biafra in prison with only the five Igbo states; I said no, I want Benue and
Rivers states included,” Mr. Kanu said, Wednesday while addressing leaders of
an Igbo civil society coalition who visited him at his country home in Umuahia,
Abia State.
The IPOB
leader also said he was offered an oil block and mansions in Dubai to back out
of the struggle for Biafra but that had also rejected the “Greek gift”.
He however
did not disclose who made him the offers and how.
“Self-actualization
is not war. We are not for war. We are not talking of war but self
actualization. Self determination is not war. Any elite that interprets self
determination to be war does not understand English.
“Biafra is
coming; there is nothing that can stop it, no matter the level of intimidation
and blackmail. Some people are running around, saying why must it be Nnamdi
Kanu, why not me. I am not an elite, I was born to restore Biafra,” he said.
The IPOB
leader also took a swipe at Igbo elites and leaders for what he described as
their anti-Biafra activities, blaming them for the deplorable state of roads in
the South-east.
“They can’t
buy us with money. If I can turn down oil block, turn down mansions in Dubai,
what can they offer us? All the roads in Biafra land are in deplorable
condition, yet we have elites who are just interested in their pockets,” Mr.
Kanu said.
“All the
roads in Biafra are bad. Apart from Okpara (late Michael Okpara), Mbonu Ojike
and Sam Mbakwe, I have not seen any elite in Igbo land. Let them show us what
they have done, no roads, no water, nothing. Because they are in Abuja, they
are now elites, let them show us what they have done for the people as elites.”
Mr. Kanu,
who is facing charges of treasonable felony at the Federal High Court in Abuja,
has been at the vanguard of the call for an independent Biafra Republic from
the Nigerian state.
In granting
him bail in April after more than a year in detention, Justice Binta Nyako
listed 12 conditions, including an order for Mr. Kanu to avoid being seen in a
crowd of more than 10 people.
The court
also instructed that Mr. Kanu desists from granting interviews or engaging in
any form of rallies as part of his conditions for bail.
Since the
IPOB leader was freed, he has not only addressed hundreds of his supporters but
has also granted media interviews.
In a 16
minutes, 21 seconds video posted on Youtube, last month, Mr. Kanu who is seen
speaking to a congregation of Biafran supporters, warned that elections will be
boycotted in the South East states starting with the Anambra State
gubernatorial elections scheduled for November 18 if the Federal Government
fails to hold a referendum for the realisation of the state of Biafra.
Leaders in
the South East have expressed concerns over the unrest and calls by IPOB for
elections boycott in the region.
Continuation
of Kanu’s trial has been adjourned to October 17 by the Abuja Division of the
Federal High Court.
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