The indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) say they want a referendum on self-determination for southeastern Nigeria, not asylum offered by the UK government.
You remember that British Visas and Immigration (UKVI) published new guidelines on how to deal with asylum applications from members of Biafran’s secessionist groups.
In the guidelines, asylum must be granted to “persecuted” members of the banned IPOB and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
The federal government said on Tuesday that the United Kingdom’s decision to grant asylum to “persecuted” members of the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) for disrespecting Nigeria as a nation had been reported.
Information and Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed also said the decision was to sabotage the fight against terrorism and undermine Nigeria’s security in general.
However, in a statement available to reporters, Comrade Emma Powerful, IPOB’s media and publicity secretary, said the global Biafra Indigenous Family (IPOB), led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, “was pleased to note the news that the United Kingdom had agreed to granted asylum to persecuted Biafra agitators resident in the UK.
“While we thank them for this courageous initiative, we would like to kindly remind them that what we Biafrans need most is and appreciate the referendum, not asylum in the UK.
“We are tired of living in slavery in the devil’s equipment called Nigeria, which they created themselves. We would not want our children, now and generations of the unborn, to share the same geopolitical space with those who reward terrorists and criminalize law-abiding citizens.
“We especially thank the government of the United Kingdom for confirming what the rest of the civilized world already knows that the great world family of IPOB is not TERRORISTS, but peaceful agitators and freedom fighters.
That Nigeria is a country led by terrorists in favor of terrorists was confirmed by this noble move of the United Kingdom.
“Aso Rock, the seat of power in Nigeria, is a terrorist haven with ministers who serve openly in favor of terrorists and their activities come and go as they please, while freedom fighters languish in prison. We want freedom, not asylum. ”
Vanguard News Nigeria