The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced that members of the United Nations Security Council and 72 countries and territories have been formally notified of the group’s leadership transition.
The group in a statement issued by Emma Powerful, the group’s spokesman said its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, had dissolved what it called the “3rd Administration” of its Directorate of State and inaugurated a “4th Administration” headed by Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ.
The group said the transition was carried out in accordance with its Code of Conduct, which it described as its supreme constitutional instrument.
According to the statement, copies of the Code of Conduct had been forwarded to the notified governments and authorities “to guide their full understanding of this civilised, orderly and constitutionally mandated transition of power.”
Quoting a provision of the code, the group stated, “The power to appoint, suspend or dismiss erring Principal officers vest exclusively on the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu except and to the extent he clearly and expressly delegates that power to any other principal officer.”
IPOB added that, in line with that provision, Kanu exercised what it described as his exclusive powers to appoint, suspend, dismiss and dissolve the previous administration.
“This decision is final, irrevocable and admits of no review, veto or negotiation,” the statement said.
The group claimed that beyond the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, 72 countries and territories had been formally informed of the change. It listed Israel, Germany, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, Ghana, Russia, India, Japan, France, Australia, Norway and several others among the jurisdictions allegedly notified.
It further asserted that the new Directorate of State under Chris Nwaọgụ had become “the only legitimate and recognised channel through which IPOB conducts its international affairs.”
IPOB also announced that only documents endorsed by Nwaọgụ would be recognised for asylum applications, diplomatic representations, political engagements and other matters involving members of the organisation.
“Only official documents, letters, representations and communications endorsed and signed by Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ… shall be recognised for purposes of asylum applications, political engagements, diplomatic representations or any other interest concerning IPOB family members worldwide,” the statement read.
The group warned that any document not bearing Nwaọgụ’s endorsement should be regarded as fraudulent.
“Any document, letter or representation purporting to come from IPOB or its Directorate of State that is not endorsed by Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ is hereby declared a certified fraud,” it said.
On developments in Germany, IPOB disclosed that authorities in the country had been notified of the suspension of Collins Chineduh and the appointment of Mazi Abraham Ogbenna as the organisation’s new national coordinator there.
The statement added that legal and administrative measures had commenced to recover assets allegedly controlled by members of the dissolved administration.
“Both legal and administrative measures are already underway to recover all IPOB assets, funds, properties and resources around the world that were under the control or influence of the dissolved 3rd Administration,” it stated.
IPOB directed its members, coordinators and supporters worldwide to disregard communications that do not originate from the office of the new Head of the Directorate of State.
“The era of imposture, unauthorised representation and internal sabotage is over. The Supreme Leader’s decision stands. The new Directorate of State is fully operational,” the statement added.
