The Presidency has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of using international campaigns to falsely accuse the Federal Government of the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement issued berated IPOB over claims that Christians in the country are being persecuted.
Presidential aide in the statement said;
The Presidency wishes to draw the attention of all citizens and the international community to a most misleading campaign spearheaded by the so-called IPOB, using false allegations of persecution of Christians against the Nigerian State.
Mallam Shehu advised Nigerians and the international community to ignore the alleged campaigns as they had disregarded similar past campaigns.
He added;
A very deep and wide investigation by an agency of the Nigerian government, working with international partners, have made us aware that there are two, interconnected campaigns being run concurrently by the IPOB in this regard.
Both are using the cover of Christianity – and calling for a US Special Envoy to be appointed to stop the “genocide” of Christians in Nigeria. But the real purpose is to drive a wedge between the Nigeria government and its US and UK/European allies.
The presidential aide stated;
IPOB leadership (Nnamdi Kanu) of course self-proclaims as “Jewish,” a position not shared by the generality of the members. For reasons of convenience, he claims to have an interest in the welfare of Christians – but this is a ruse. The case for independence, the leader believes, is strengthened by “proving” the government of Nigeria is “autocratic”, engaged in a “silent slaughter” of their citizens along religious and ethnic lines. And therefore the only viable option for the unique religious and ethnic minority is a sovereign Biafra separate from Nigeria.
Nigerians and the international community are advised to be wary of this divisive campaigns, which available evidence shows is being funded with monthly spending of $85,000 since October 2019, with no records of the source of this largesse.
He expressed that;
The campaign consists of producing articles in the names of the alleged Christian NGOs’ leaders (of campaign groups created at the time this PR contract with a US lobbying firm was signed) and letters to and from members of Congress to the White House.
Unfortunately, some members of Congress have been persuaded there is indeed “Christian persecution” underway in Nigeria and do so quoting the campaign, they are known to be taking up the case directly with the White House to appoint the special envoy.
Mallam Shehu concluded that;
It is clear from all of the above that the IPOB’s extraordinarily and dubiously well-funded campaign in the US and UK/Europe is misusing the issue of the welfare of Christians purely to further their political ends. And it seeks to damage inter-religious dialogue in Nigeria as well as to damage the international reputation of Nigeria.
Nigerians and the international community are hereby advised to ignore this campaign as they have disregarded similar past campaigns originated by this group which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian state.
The presidential aide declared that international groups and societies are welcome to send representatives to Nigeria.
