Mend claims Nnamdi Kanu has agreed to denounce Biafra in exchange for his freedom

MOVEMENT for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) leaders have alleged that Radio Biafra director Nnamdi Kanu has entered into a pact with the federal government under which he has agreed to renounce Biafra in exchange for his freedom.

 

Mr Kanu, who heads an organisation known as the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) has been in detention since October last year when he was arrested upon arriving in Nigeria from the UK. He is facing several charges including operating a pirate radio station and treason but behind the scenes, talk have been going on to secure Mr Kanu's release.

 

Several Igbo leaders have held talks with the government to find a solution to the ongoing agitation for secession in southeast Nigeria, however, so far Mr Kanu's hardcore supporters have been talking tough. Several of them have even claimed to have entered into a pact with Mend and other groups in the Niger Delta to secede from Nigeria together.

 

However, Mend spokesman Jomo Gbomo, has accused Mr Kanu of agreeing to secretly renouncing Biafra in exchange for his freedom, only to act hypocritically in public after  discussions on the matter. Nnamdi Kanu arrive the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, June 20, 2016 and disassociated Ipob from Mend.

 

Mr Gbomo said: “The attention of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has been drawn to the recent spate of hypocritical and provocative statements issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The group said the Ipob/Kanu statements purport to dissociate them from some of the concessions, which have so far been secured by Mend in the ongoing talks aimed at resolving the current Niger Delta crisis.

 

"Mend hereby uses this opportunity to inform the entire world that following the group’s ongoing negotiations with the federal government, Nnamdi Kanu has made it clear that he is willing to renounce Biafra in secret in exchange for his freedom. Mend and the federal government have, however, flatly rejected the Ipob/Kanu hypocrisy to remain defiant in public, while accepting to secretly renounce secession."

 

He added that Mend therefore urges the already frustrated and desperate Mr. Kanu and Ipob to swallow their pride and make a public denunciation of Biafra. Mend argued that the public denunciation by Mr Kanu was important so as not continue deceiving the gullible donors and followers sold to the illusion of a Biafra Republic that aims to annex the Niger Delta region as part of its territory.