The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked President Mohammadu Buhari to reconsider his stance on the release of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The group said Buhari was about making a mistake capable of adversely affecting Nigeria, if he failed to free Kanu.
The President had promised a delegation of Igbo elders of consideration of the IPOB leader’s release which he later rescinded during an interview with Channels TV last week.
But in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB accused those it referred to as “foreign-based saboteurs” and enemies of its struggle as being responsible for Buhari’s change of mind.
It urged Buhari not to allow himself to be deceived by sacked members of the group peddling fake information about its security outfit, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), for pecuniary interests.
The statement reads in part, “Our attention has been drawn to a comment by President Muhammadu Buhari that he will not release our Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“We know that this position by Buhari after he had earlier promised a delegation of Igbo leaders that he would consider their appeal to consider a political solution for Kanu, was not unconnected with the visit by some foreign-based traitors and enemies of our struggle.
“Our intelligence captured what transpired in a meeting between these saboteurs and their host in Aso Rock. In the meeting, the saboteurs and traitors concluded with the Presidency that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should not be released, claiming erroneously thought, that IPOB and ESN have been defeated which is lies.
“But, we want to tell Buhari and his cohorts that he is going to make a mistake capable of adversely affecting Nigeria should he fail to release Nnamdi Kanu because these bunch of criminals he had a meeting with was not giving him correct information about IPOB and the ESN outfit.
“Why should the Federal Government be releasing bandits and terrorists wreaking havoc across the country but fail to release freedom seekers.
“Federal Government should not be deceived by blacklegs and sacked members of the movement who are feeding it with fake information about IPOB and ESN outfit for pecuniary interests.
“IPOB is too big for them to comprehend and they could not fathom IPOB and its operational strategy when they were in IPOB. We don’t want to mention their names.
“The people who visited him promised to help him crush IPOB and ESN but unfortunately they cannot achieve that, actually they will be disappointed.”
While assuring the capability of Kanu to defend himself in court, the group asked Buhari and his government to be careful and neutral and in the court proceedings.
It added, “Our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB will defeat them both in local and international courts.
“Buhari and his advisers should reconsider their stance concerning the release of Mazi Nnamdi KANU. They should heed the voice of reason instead of holding an innocent man without any justifiable reason.”
