The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on Igbo leaders to tender Apology to Eler statesman, Chief Edwin Clark over the statement made by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
PANDEF demanded that Igbo leaders condemn the statement by IPOB in the interest of “healthy relations” between the south-east and south-south.
The elder statesman had said IPOB must be dreaming if it believes the south-south region will be part of Biafra nation.
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In response, IPOB said Clark had no mandate to speak for Niger Delta.
Reacting to the development, PANDEF, in a statement issued by Emmanuel Ibok Essien, its national chairman, backed stance by the Ijaw leader that the Niger Delta is not part of Biafra.
Essien said: “It is a shame that they cannot differentiate between fact and fantasy. This stupidity would erode any sympathy they had hitherto received from the South-South geo-political zone,”
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“Let us restate, without any equivocation, that the Niger Delta Region is not part of Biafra and that no inch of the South-South Geopolitical Zone shall be part of any imagined “Republic”.
“It’s rather puerile for IPOB or any other group to consider that Niger Delta Region would be part of any arbitrary contraption. If it becomes necessary for the Niger Delta people to pull out of this country, we shall do so, on our terms.
“Over the years, the highly respected Chief who was a Federal Minister of Information, and Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic, has in his capacities as an educationist, politician, public servant, lawyer, lawmaker, community leader and nationalist, continued to play vital roles to stimulate unity, peace and development in the Niger Delta Region, and Nigeria, at large.
“Though PANDEF assumes no well-meaning Igbo son or daughter would sanction the aspersion by IPOB on our respected National Leader, however, we would insist that the Leadership of the Igbo Nation denounce the irresponsible statement by IPOB.
“And tender a public apology to the Elder Statesman, and, indeed, the entire Niger Delta people, in the interest of healthy relations between the South-East and South-South Zones. Anything short of that would be inferred to be tacit approval of the balderdash of IPOB.”
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