The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied allegations that it burnt the country home of Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s former President, late Prof. George Obiozor.
In a statement made by IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful on Thursday, he described Ohanaeze’s claim as “unguarded and concocted”, saying that neither late Obiozor nor any of his family members accused IPOB of committing such atrocity.
The statement reads “We the global family of IPOB take great exception to the unguarded and concocted statement credited to Damian Okeke-Ogene, who claims to be speaking for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo as their Vice President General.
“We are not amused by the statement from him accusing IPOB of being responsible for the burning down of the country home of the late Ohanaeze Ndigbo, President General, Prof. George Obiozor.
“First and foremost, IPOB members are neither hoodlums nor terrorists and do not burn people’s houses or attack Biafrans even at the highest level of provocation. IPOB didn’t burn late Prof. Obiozor’s country home. Neither late Obiozor nor his family has ever accused IPOB of those attrocities.
“IPOB and ESN operatives were never in any confrontation with the late Prof. George Obiozor. How then can the disciplined IPOB members burn the house of a man who did not confront us either in words or action?”
The group, however, pointed out that the statement from the Ohanaeze Vice President is a clear indication that he has declared himself an enemy of IPOB and its struggle.
“It shows that he has made himself available as a tool of our enemies against IPOB. We advise him to be very careful. IPOB does not make enemies, however, we do not run away from anyone, group of people or entity that sets out to be an impediment to our struggle for the freedom of our people and our land Biafra.”
“We want to ask Ogene-Okeke what his relationship with late Prof. George Obiozor was before his death? This man was not in contact with Obiozor before he died.
“We are advising Chief Okeke Ogene for his own interest to stop using IPOB’s name for his treacherous political business or face the consequences,” the group added.