We’ll invade Anambra to stop Ohanaeze’s summit – IPOB

The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra has vowed to take over Anambra State on May 21 to stop a conference of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo scheduled to take place at the Ekwueme Square, Awka on that day.

In a statement made available to our correspondent on Sunday in Awka by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group vowed to attack the venue of the conference with the last drop of their blood.

It said no amount of security deployed in the place would stop it from carrying out its threat.

IPOB had months back warned Ohanaeze Ndigbo to desist from holding any summit that would discuss the restructuring of Nigeria anywhere in Igbo land.

The group said its interest was rather a summit to discuss a referendum for the actualisation of a Biafra Republic.

The statement described the leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo as traitors, who would want to celebrate their betrayal of Biafra’s freedom, using the cover of a summit.

The statement partly read, “IPOB had since warned Nnia Nwodo and his collaborators in Ohanaeze not to bring their one Nigeria summit to the heartland of Biafra but they remain adamant. The only way this summit can hold is unless the heaven falls on the 21st of May.

“It seems Nnia Nwodo and his Ohanaeze Ndigbo don’t understand the language of liberty; we shall meet them head-on in Awka on the 21st at the Ekwueme Square.”

The group said Awka would be occupied from midnight of May 20th to 5 pm on the May 21st.

IPOB said the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and its leadership were free to hold “their restructuring and preservation of one Nigeria summit anywhere else but not on Biafra soil.”

However, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra State chapter, Chief Okeke Ogene, said nothing would stop the summit as scheduled.

He said, “We are used to IPOB’s threats. For instance, they said there won’t be an election in Anambra State last year; but the election was held and peacefully, too.

 “It’s wrong for IPOB to preempt what will be discussed in the meeting. If IPOB has any point or grievance, they should bring it to the summit so that all and sundry will look into it and take a decision.”

Ogene said what was clear to him was that the Igbo would converge on Awka that day and take far-reaching decisions.