Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of
Biafra (IPOB), says while in detention, he was offered the sovereign state of
Biafra but he rejected it because of the non-inclusion of Rivers and Benue
states.
He said this on Wednesday when leaders of Igbo civil society
coalition visited him at his country home in Umuahia, Abia state.
The IPOB leader also said he was given an oil block and “mansions”
in Dubai but had also rejected the offer, describing it as “greek gift” to make
him back off on the struggle for Biafra.
He, however, did not name the people who made these offers to him.
“They gave me Biafra in prison with only the five Igbo states; I
said no, I want Benue and Rivers,” Kanu said.
“Self actualization is not war. We are not for war. We are not
talking of war but self actualization. Self determination is not war. Any elite
that interprets self determination to be war does not understand English.
“Biafra is coming; there is nothing that can stop it, no matter
the level of intimidation and blackmail. Some people are running around, saying
why must it be Nnamdi Kanu, why not me. I am not an elite, I was born to
restore Biafra.”
The IPOB leader also berated Igbo elites and leaders for what he
described as their “anti-Biafra activities”.
He blamed them for the “poor” state of infrastructure in the
south-east.
“They can’t buy us with money. If I can turn down oil block, turn
down mansions in Dubai, what can they offer us? All the roads in Biafra land
are in deplorable condition, yet we have elites who are just interested in
their pockets,” Kanu said.
“All the roads in Biafra are bad. Apart from Okpara (late Michael
Okpara), Mbonu Ojike and Sam Mbakwe, I have not seen any elite in Igbo land.
Let them show us what they have done, no roads, no water, nothing. Because they
are in Abuja, they are now elites, let them show us what they have done for the
people as elites.
“They said everything has price, I told them that Nnamdi Kanu has
no price. All of you here know my wife, I sacrificed her for two years; so what
can they offer me.”
- The Cable
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