THE Presidency on Sunday raised the alarm that the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is using the alleged killing of Christians to wage war against the Nigerian State. The Presidency accused IPOB of using what it said was false allegations of persecution of Christians against the Nigerian State to drive a wedge between the country and the United States, United Kingdom and European allies.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in Abuja, said that available intelligence has shown that the IPOB was using two interconnected campaigns running concurrently in the alleged campaign. The Presidency in the statement said that it wanted to draw the attention of all citizens and the international community to “a most misleading campaign” spearheaded by the pro-secessionist group. It advised Nigerians and the international community to ignore the alleged campaign as they had disregarded similar past campaigns originated by the group which was designated as a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian State. The statement read, “The Presidency wishes to draw the attention of all citizens and the international community to a most misleading campaign spearheaded by the so-called using false allegations of persecution of Christians against the Nigerian State. “A very deep and wide investigation by an agency of the Nigerian government, working with international partners have made us become aware that there are two, interconnected campaigns being run concurrently by the 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.
leadership 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 own citizens along religion and ethnic lines – and that 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 campaign, which available evidence shows is being funded with a monthly spending of $85,000 USD since October 2019, with no records of the source of this largesse. “The campaign consists of producing articles in the names of the alleged Christian leaders (of campaign groups created at the time this 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 clearly been persuaded there is indeed a “Christian persecution” underway in Nigeria – and do so quoting the campaign – and they are known to be taking up the case directly with the White House to appoint the special envoy. “The American charity secured a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and has made presentations to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
“There is also a UK and European angle of the Campaign, which is more opaque than its US sister campaign – given there is less legal requirement for public filings – but what is known of this at the moment is that their Budget is sufficient to hire four PR firms in the UK, Belgium, France and the US (the latter additional to the above).
