IPOB celebrates meeting with UN in Geneva, brands it ‘historic encounter’

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has recalled with relish, its recent meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, with the United Nations (UN), describing it as a “historic encounter”.

The group’s delegation led by its deputy leader, Mazi Uche Mefor, had on September 14, the same day it declared stay-at-home in the eastern states to remember victims of the invasion of the home of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at Isiama- Afaraukwu, Umuahia in Abia State, visited Geneva for a meeting with the international body.

In a statement on Friday released by its spokesman, Comrade Emma Powerful , in respect of the meeting, the group said the meeting was the first time in the post-war history of Biafra that the leadership of any group, movement or people will be meeting with the United Nations face to face to discuss the issue of Biafra.

“It was a historic encounter that will go a long way in cementing the diplomatic credentials of IPOB in the eyes of the international community. It was the very first time that United Nations had the opportunity to host Biafrans to a meeting and it is only appropriate that we appreciate all those working tirelessly with our diplomatic team based in London to accomplish this feat.

“We commend the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra (DOS-IPOB) under the leadership of Mazi Chika Edoziem, who accompanied our deputy leader to the historical meeting.

“The historic encounter with United Nations officials in Geneva has opened up avenues and opportunities for further engagement between IPOB and relevant UN agencies on the burning issues of human rights violations by the Buhari regime and enforcement of IPOB’s universal right to self determination.

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“With this meeting satisfactorily concluded, IPOB has gone where no other group of leaders before it dared go to. It will forever be recorded that for nearly 50 years and for the very first time in the history of Biafra, an interface was facilitated between representatives of the people of Biafra IPOB and the United Nations,” the statement read.

While the group refused to make public all that was discussed during the meeting, it however claimed that the world had officially been placed on notice that IPOB, as a movement, was determined to have South East/South South, separated from Nigeria.

IPOB said it regretted that Swiss Embassy denied the family of its missing leader, Nnamdi Kanu, entry visa to Switzerland to be part of the meeting.

 

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