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updated 10:20 AM UTC, Dec 13, 2023

John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Others Flay Terrorist Tag On IPOB

Unic Press UK: John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has denounced the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its designation as a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government. A Federal High Court in Abuja sitting in Abuja had, on 20th September 2017, banned IPOB and placed it on Nigeria’s list if terrorist organization.

In an interview with Premium Times, John Cardinal said:

“My understanding of a terrorist is a deadly armed activist. I don’t think, merely speaking or talking or threatening will add up to being a terrorist. I believe it is a mistake, it was overdone and I fear that a lot of people outside Nigeria will find it difficult to agree with us in this matter. It will create a bad image for us. The impression it creates is like you give a dog a bad name so as to deal with it. Nnamdi Kanu advisers should have warned him to calm down and not be stupid by thinking that he can confront the Nigerian army. If we reduce the courts to a body that just confirms whatever aspirations that government has, then the judiciary will not be seen as independent. The title of terrorists should not just be thrown at anybody. And there is a danger that if we continue this way, it may become more and more difficult for us to arrive at a peaceful solution.” 

The Founder and President of the Odua People’s Congress (OPC), Fredrick Faseun, said:

“I do not believe that IPOB is a terrorist organization and if that statement is not well managed then he will be declaring virtually every ethnic organization a ter­rorist, and this will not be good for Nigerians, so my advice is that as much as you want to keep law and order, you must watch the names you give to Nigerian citi­zens.”

The spokesman for the American Embassy in Nigeria, Russell Brooks, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday, 22nd September, that the United States government has yet to place IPOB on its list of terrorist groups. He said:

“The United States Government is strongly committed to Nigeria’s unity. Important political and economic issues affecting the Nigerian people, such as the allocation of resources, are worthwhile topics for respectful debate in a democracy. Within the context of unity, we encourage all Nigerians to support a de-escalation of tensions and peaceful resolution of grievances”, the Punch reported on 24th September 2017) 

The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a terrorist organisation under US law.”IPOB’s legal counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, filed suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/871/17 under Section 6(6) (1) (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, seeking to overturn the proscription of and designation of IPOB as a terrorist organization. Among other submissions at Court, Ejiofor said:

“The exparte order proscribing the activities of the respondent and declaring the respondent a terrorist organization is prejudicial to the subsisting criminal charge/trial pending before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 between F.R.N. V. Nnamdi Kanu & 4 Ors, wherein the court had in the course of the proceedings, held that the Respondent is not an unlawful organization.”


About IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are seeking a referendum on Biafra independence from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

IPOB claims to be the original inhabitants and the owners of the lands and communities of Biafra and Biafraland presently located in the South East region, some parts of South South region and some parts of the Middle Belt of Nigeria.

The group is led by Nnamdi Kanu, who holds dual citizenship being a Nigerian cum British national. Kanu is the director of Radio Biafra.

Kanu is facing a series of court cases in Nigeria, but currently on bail. Since the Nigerian military invaded his home on 14th September 2017, his whereabouts unknown.

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