Over recent weeks, separatists calling for the recreation of the defunct Biafran republic which lasted between 1967 and 1970 have been organising demonstrations up and down the country, campaigning for secession. Their protests began with the arrest of Radio Biafra director Nnamdi Kanu who was apprehended by security agents following his arrival in Lagos from the UK.
Although numerous Igbo organisations have disassociated themselves from the protests, the demonstrations have attracted large numbers of disaffected youths across southeast Nigeria. Ohaneze Ndigbo's youth wing has disassociated itself from them and now the parent body has joined in the condemnation.
Dr Chris Eluomunoh, the chairman of the Forum of State Presidents of Ohaneze in the seven Igbo–speaking states, said that Biafra died in 1970 with the surrender by General Philip Effiong to the Nigerian troops. Speaking in Awka, he said that no right thinking person would support what he called the madness by some youths, who were being deceived to engage in something they cannot finish.
“You will notice that Ohaneze has been very silent on the issue of Biafra insurgency, although the youth wing of Ohaneze has been speaking on it. Ohaneze, as the Igbo cultural group, cannot support Biafra and we dissociate ourselves from it totally," Dr Eluomunoh added.
Among the other prominent bodies that have condemned the call for secession are The Igbo Conscience Group, who have described Mr Kanu as a phony individual, fighting a selfish cause. Reminding everyone that there was no reason for secession, The Igbo Conscience Group pointed out that even the late Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu pointed out that there was no need for it again following the end of the civil war.
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