Biafra: Leadership Crisis Rocks IPOB After Nnamdi Kanu’s Arrest

The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is reportedly being rocked with crisis following the arrest of its leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

He was reportedly rearrested in Kenya and extradited back to Nigeria on the 27th of June, 2021.

The secessionist was then arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako who ordered his remand in the custody of the DSS until his next trial date which is July 26 and 27.

Kanu, who is facing an 11-count charge of treason, treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, among others, jumped bail in 2017 and left the country, only to re-emerge in Israel and then in the United Kingdom.

Reports have now emerged that Kanu and his close associate had an issue over the control and handling of IPOB’s finances, a situation that made him embark on the Kenyan trip without their knowledge.

Kanu was said to have lost the trust of his closest “generals” over their handling of IPOB’s finances, the reasons he allegedly cut them off before heading to Kenya.

Sources within IPOB, after Kanu’s rearrest have pointed at internal crisis within the pro-Biafra group.

Recall that after the arrest of Kanu, Simon Ekpa was reportedly appointed to take over the running of Radio Biafra but Emma Powerful, spokesman of IPOB, debunked the claims, stressing that Ekpa was appointed as a reporter like other broadcasters on Radio Biafra.

A few weeks after Ekpa’s appointment, the group disassociated itself from the reporter due to alleged ideological differences and refusal to sign some documents in line with the guidelines of the pro-Biafra group.

It was gathered that the ideological differences also caused the split in relationship between Nnamdi Kanu and erstwhile number two, Uche Mefor.

Mefor had accused Kanu of building a “culture of lies, of deception and of blackmail,” with reference to those lives destroyed and who cannot speak for themselves.

He said: “See how they falsely label and destroy people’s character with impunity.

“When I said that what goes up must come down, I meant every bit of it. Whatever anybody sows shall he reap.

“They shall be alive to experience the same pains they inflicted on those vulnerable who are unable to speak for themselves.

“The forces of heaven and earth shall continue to work in dissonance and in discordant pattern for all of you. Time shall definitely tell.”

Reacting to reports on a crack in IPOB, Emma Powerful told DailyPost that there is no crisis within the leadership of the group.

According to Powerful: “There is no crack in IPOB, our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu built IPOB in a strong rock. There is nothing anybody can do to short-change IPOB’s determination towards this divine fight for Biafra’s freedom. IPOB is Intact and not shaking.

“There is no issue in IPOB leadership and IPOB members worldwide.”

Powerful also dismissed the claims by Mefor, stressing that he is no longer a member of IPOB.

He said: “Uche Mefor has resigned from IPOB; he is no longer an IPOB member.”

When asked why Mefor resigned, Powerful responded: “Resignation of who? Because we don’t know about Uche Mefor, it’s his personal decisions and we have nothing to say about that.”