We Don’t Trust Atiku, He’s Only After South East’s Votes – IPOB

Following his recent visit to the South East where he consulted with leaders in the region ahead of the 2019 presidential election, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has warned that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar cannot be trusted if voted into power.

Recall that Atiku had recently begun a nationwide tour of Nigerian states for grassroots talks in respect of his ambition to become the country’s president in 2019.

The former Vice President had visited Ebonyi State last week where he took a tour of ongoing development projects by Governor David Umahi.

Atiku also visited Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Friday where he toured Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s ‘Enyinmba Economic City Project’.

While in Abia, the former Vice President said for the country to quell IPOB’s calls for secession, it must embrace true federalism and restructuring.

Atiku had said, “I believe that when you restructure this country and you give more resources and powers to component units of this country, you will not have the problem of IPOB. IPOB is looking for self-determination and when you devolve more powers and resources that will take care of the agitation.”

But responding to the remarks made by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, IPOB said: “what the people of the area (South East) need is nothing but Biafra”.

Speaking through one Prince Emmanuel Kanu, who is said to be a younger brother of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the secessionist group warned that the former Vice President cannot be trusted as “He only came to seek our votes and after that, no more.”

Kanu said, “To start with, I don’t exactly know what Atiku means by restructuring. He needs to explain to us what restructuring is all about and the kind of restructuring he is talking about.

“IPOB is a secessionist group and we believe in Biafra and total freedom of our people. What does he mean by restructuring, is it along state or regional line? He should do away with his restructuring.

“Atiku was there when the Nigerian army invaded Nnamdi Kanu’s house and he never said anything, so, why should we, as Biafrans, believe him? We cannot believe him.

“He came to Umuahia without making any attempt to visit the same place soldiers invaded, to see things for himself; so, why should we believe him in the first place.

“The Igbo are not swayed by such statement; he only came to seek our votes and after that, no more.

“Before he came to Abia or Igbo land, he should have been able to understand the meaning of Biafra. For us, Biafra means freedom for us to be free.

“It is completely different from restructuring of the country. We want to be free people, so, what Atiku is saying doesn’t make sense to us; until he does the needful, nobody will take him seriously.

“What we want is Biafra and it’s as simple as ABC. What Atiku said is a political gimmick, they have seen Easterners as people they can use whenever they can, to grab whatever they want, especially when they want our votes. What they do is to run their mouths, and after obtaining our votes, they will leave us where we were. So, Biafra is what can save us.

“Igbo have become wiser in all spheres of live, nobody can deceive us again, not even one million Atikus,” Kanu added.