The Motion for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra and the Indigenous Folks of Biafra are presently at opposing ends relating to the candidature of former Inspector Basic of Police, Mike Okiro for President-Basic of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Although the 2 teams assist the zoning of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo PG to Rivers State, the indigeneship of Okiro is within the contest.
Whereas MASSOB held that Okiro was a real son of Rivers State, the IPOB is of the place that the previous IGP is from Imo State and therefore not eligible to contest.
A Wednesday assertion by the MASSOB Nationwide Chief, Uchenna Madu stated Okiro being of Rivers extraction was confirmed by his endorsement by the Egbema ethnic nationality in Rivers and Imo States for the place.
The assertion added that Okiro’s eligibility was confirmed by the Nationwide President Basic of Ogbakor Egbema Alinso, Ifi Francis Igwebuike, and the Nzeobi of Egbema Kingdom in Rivers State, Eze Evaristus Amuda.
“They emphasised that Okiro is a real son of Rivers State, together with his complete profession as a public servant tied to the state’s quota,” the assertion additional referenced.
Nevertheless, IPOB in an announcement on Tuesday, warned Okiro to not be misled by an “alleged endorsement from a faceless group purportedly known as Ogbako Egbema to contest for the management of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.”
It accused highly effective influential figures inside the Imo State authorities of orchestrating the endorsement to undermine Okiro’s integrity and disrupt Igbo unity.
It known as on Okiro to not fall for the temptation of contesting the stool insisting that Mike Okiro, is from Imo State, and shouldn’t grow to be the President-Basic.
Moreover, IPOB urged Okiro to not “allow himself to be manipulated into disrupting the cohesion of the Igbo race.”
“The eye of the noble household of IPOB, led by our chief Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the purported endorsement of Mr Mike Okiro by a faceless group supposedly known as ‘Ogbako Egbema’ for him to contest for the subsequent President-Basic of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“It’s evident that some influential people within the Imo State authorities are behind this transfer to tarnish Okiro’s status and destabilise Ohanaeze Ndigbo, simply as they’ve sought to destroy Imo State. This faceless group is engaged on behalf of the enemies of Ndigbo, whose purpose is to disorganise Alaigbo.
“These people can’t override the official proper of Rivers State to supply the subsequent President-Basic of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Whereas many well-meaning organisations are actively advocating for the unification of all Igbo territories—from Igbanke to Isoko—others are decided to perpetuate the divisive narratives of our adversaries, portraying Igboland as irreparably fragmented.
“The President-Basic place is reserved for Rivers State Igbos. Okiro, who beforehand contested in opposition to the late Prof. George Obiozor throughout Imo State’s flip, misplaced that election.
“Anybody or group trying to contain Okiro on this contest in opposition to Rivers State Igbos is intentionally upsetting hassle. IPOB will reply appropriately to any such provocation,” the IPOB assertion additional learn.
The assertion additional declared that IPOB would now not tolerate political manipulation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s management.
It known as on Igbo governors and politicians to permit the organisation to perform as a revered socio-cultural physique reasonably than as an extension of the South-East Governors’ Discussion board.
“Any try to govern the result of the forthcoming election to exclude or deny Rivers State Igbos their rightful alternative might be firmly resisted by IPOB. These accountable for such actions might be held accountable. The period of permitting Ohanaeze Ndigbo to function a device for the enemies of Ndigbo to regulate our political future is over,” IPOB stated.
The workplace of the President-Basic of Ohanaeze Ndigbo turned vacant on July 25, 2025, when Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu died on the age of 82 years.
The Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation is presently looking for Iwuanyanwu’s successor, with some stakeholders saying it’s the flip of Rivers State to supply the subsequent Ohanaeze chief.
In the meantime, an Enugu State Excessive Courtroom has ordered events concerned within the January 10 election of a brand new President-Basic of Ohanaeze to take care of the present standing till it guidelines in any other case.
The pan-Igbo socio-cultural group scheduled Friday for a recent election for all of the positions, even because it proposed that Rivers State would produce the subsequent President-Basic for the affiliation.
The court docket order got here after a former governor of Imo State, Dr Ikedi Ohakim, in swimsuit quantity E/01M/2025, dragged the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the outgoing PG, Nze Chukwu; Ambassador Okey Emuchay; Chief Ejiofor Onyia; Chidi Ibe; Okechukwu Ishiguzoro; and Chief Richard Ozubu to an Enugu State excessive court docket.
Justice N.R. Oji, on Friday, January 3, 2025, after listening to Aloy Ejimakor, who represented Ohakim, ordered that events ought to preserve the present standing.
The order learn, “That the choice prayer is hereby granted, events to take care of establishment ante bellum within the matter pending the listening to and dedication of the movement on discover for interlocutory injunction.
“Depart is hereby granted to the applicant for substituted service of the movement on discover, by pasting them on the entrance gate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo headquarters at 7, Park Avenue, GRA Enugu.
“An order for abridgement of time is hereby granted for the listening to of the movement on discover for interlocutory injunction on seventh January 2025.”
The court docket adjourned the matter to January 7 for a listening to of the movement on discover for interlocutory injunction, which is able to both enable or droop the proposed election.