IPOB Rejects Tinubu Independence Day Speech Calls It Divisive And Hate Filled

The Indigenous People of Biafra has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day address, accusing him of misrepresentation and prejudice.

The group reacted after the President, in his October 1 speech, praised security agencies for their role in tackling insecurity across the country and listed IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, among groups responsible for terror activities in the South-East. IPOB described the remarks as an attempt to criminalise its movement and labelled the speech divisive.

According to IPOB, its activities are peaceful and based on the right to self-determination, not violence. The group recalled that a ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja had made clear that it was not a terrorist organisation, noting that no court had linked its leader or members to acts of terrorism. It dismissed the proscription order used by past administrations as unlawful and politically driven.

The group accused the Tinubu administration of double standards, alleging that violent attacks linked to armed herders were often downplayed while unarmed youths in the South-East were demonised. IPOB said the President’s words exposed bias against the Igbo people and ignored the widespread suffering caused by herder-related violence in other regions.

It also criticised South-East political leaders, accusing them of weakness and complicity for not defending their people. The group said history would judge them for failing to act while ordinary citizens faced persecution.

Reiterating its position, IPOB declared it cannot be equated with extremist groups such as Boko Haram or ISWAP. It stressed that its struggle is a response to marginalisation and state oppression, while its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, remains in detention despite court rulings ordering his release.

The group called on the international community to take note of what it described as attempts to criminalise an entire people through propaganda. It insisted that its campaign for Biafra’s self-determination is rooted in justice and international law, warning that no amount of government pressure or blackmail will erase its cause.