The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced that its Biafra referendum would hold on February 16, the same date as the Nigerian presidential election.
The group said that to lay the groundwork for the referendum, its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, had moved to the United Kingdom from Israel.
According to a Monday statement made available on Tuesday, the referendum would ascertain the number of Igbos that desire to be a part of Nigeria and those who desire “freedom” for the sovereign nation of Biafra.
The statement signed by the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Comrade Emma Powerful, affirmed that the process would be democratic, transparent and peaceful.
He added that to smoothen and perfect plans for the referendum process, Kanu was meeting the Biafra “High Command” in Europe.
Powerful disclosed that Kanu had been having “useful talks” with some “diplomats” to ensure a successful referendum.
The statement further read, “We can assure you that majority of them have given their assurances and the proposal has received a tremendous support from many key allies, who see self-determination for Biafra as the best solution to the present Nigeria problem.
“We are sure of peaceful and rancour free referendum because international observers and media platforms will be on ground to monitor the exercise on that day. It is important we remind Nigerians, once again, that the ongoing political developments in the country only confirms that Nigeria cannot work together as one country, and Biafra must be a sovereign nation.
“We, the global family of IPOB, ably led by Nnamdi Kanu, wish to announce officially to the people of Biafra, both home and in the diaspora, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that our leader, Kanu is currently in London, to join his family and see his new born child he hadn’t seen because of his illegal incarceration and detention since 2015.
“He will also discuss with IPOB top family members in London, to finalise the way forward for Biafra referendum that will hold on February 16, 2019, alongside Nigeria’s presidential poll.
“On Friday last week, Kanu arrived Leeds Airport in England, where our deputy leader, Uche Mefor and other top IPOB members based in the UK received him. Kanu and other top IPOB high command are expected to meet with European Union ( EU) officials to gather more international support for the Biafra proposal.”
