The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra has reaffirmed that the embattled Nnamdi Kanu remains its leader.
The group stated this while addressing the rumours about the emergence of a factional group within the party.
In a statement on Tuesday, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, insisted that Nnamdi Kanu remains the group’s only leader, adding that any person claiming to be IPOB autopilot group is fake and should be ignored.
Powerful said IPOB has constantly announced that Simon Ekpa is not an IPOB member and people should disregard whatever he says in the group’s name.
He claimed that “autopilots” are government-sponsored groups paid to infiltrate IPOB and create an impression that IPOB has factions.
He said, “It is on record that the Federal Government has in the past sponsored enemies of IPOB to create non-existing groups claiming to be genuine IPOB that later fizzled out and IPOB is still matching forward.
“IPOB is already used to these government agents and the latest group they call ‘Autopilot’. Let them jamboree with the government funds for the moment before they go the way of others.”
The group urged all the South-East people to join in the solidarity protest against the killings of innocent youths in Imo State.
It added that the state security agencies had killed too many people, and the people could not continue to remain mute.
They alleged that the state governor, Hope Uzodinma was on contract with the Federal Government to “slaughter” and “depopulate” the youths of Imo State youths in return for the Supreme Court judgement that made him governor.
According to PUNCH, the statement read in part, “We the global movement and family of IPOB wish to draw the attention of Sahara Reporters news outlets and other media houses in Nigeria and the world that IPOB has no faction whatsoever.
“Kanu is the only leader in the IPOB. Therefore, any person claiming to be IPOB autopilot group is totally fake and must be ignored. Either you’re IPOB or not.
“IPOB has constantly announced that Simon Ekpa is not an IPOB member and will never be because he has sold his soul to the devil and has bitten more than he can chew.
“Let these facts sink into all who care to understand, IPOB is only one body. IPOB has a presence in over 100 Nations. IPOB has only one leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. IPOB has an administrative body called the Directorate Of States headed by Mazi Chika Edoziem.
“In the absence of our leader, the Head of DOS takes charge of the global movement and family of IPOB. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in his several live broadcast, had consistently informed our people that DOS is in charge of this struggle while he leads.
“ESN is one and under the command of DOS in the absence of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Speaking on the said autopilot group, Powerful said, “As a double agent, Ekpa was paid to issue a jamboree and fallacious sit-at-home to discourage people from protesting the murder of 14 innocent youths in Awo-Mmamma.
“Autopilot is a government-sponsored group that has never given orders to Biafrans before, and we would not allow them to do that so long as IPOB exists.
“IPOB and ESN stand in solidarity with the youths and people of Imo State to ensure that the evil and murderous Ebubeagu is disbanded by the government, or they will push the people to an unbearable and unacceptable point that could compel them to take laws into their hands to bring the Ebubeagu murderous activities to an end.”
