By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called out former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, for linking the group with a drug dealer as its financier.

The group described Abati's utterance as "a big insult to the great people of Biafra".

A statement issued on Thursday by IPOB's Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, called on people close to Abati to advise him to refrain from his vituperations against the group, saying that it can no longer be tolerated.

The statement reads in part: "The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been drawn to the stupid and fallacious assertion credited to Reuben Abati that a certain drug peddler who was caught by security agents in Imo State was IPOB fund raiser.

"IPOB is not desperate about funding otherwise we know what to do but funding has never been our challenge.

"Reuben Abati is interfering into IPOB matter much and it must bring him down because IPOB will ridicule him anytime soon, Reuben Abati must leave IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu alone and face his business or he is going to meet his waterloo because God Almighty Chukwu Okike Abiama is going to destroy him and his evil.

"We have tried to ignore pockets of unwarranted attacks by Rubben Abati against IPOB and our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, but we will no longer tolerate these insults.

"In case Reuben Abati and his likes do not know, IPOB is a global family and not a terror organization that receives illicit funds."

The statement said that IPOB is legitimately funded by its teeming members most of whom are very enterprising and resourceful sons and daughters of Biafra in the Diaspora.

While noting that IPOB maintains its presence in over 100 countries of the world and gets its funding from the financial contributions and donations by members, it added that it does not need drug money for funding.

Continuing, the statement said: "No single individual or drug dealer is sponsoring IPOB or the Biafra project. Biafra is a divine mandate which Chukwu Okike Abiama designed and asked Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB members to actualise.

"Reuben Abati linking IPOB with a drug dealer is a big insult to the great people of Biafra. Those close to him should advise him to refrain from his vituperations against IPOB as this can no longer be tolerated. IPOB is not desperate about funding otherwise we know what to do but funding has never been our challenge.

"Reuben Abati hatred against Igbo people cannot change God's wishes for Igbos. Rubben Abati with his family cannot match a single family in Igboland. He should stop envy and jealousy against those he knows that are bigger than him and his family. The God Almighty Chukwu Okike Abiama bless IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu his hatred cannot change anything in our lives.

"We recall that in 2017 he was rejoicing and jubilating over the fate of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu after the Nigeria Army invaded his Afaraukwu home. He should face his business and leave IPOB and Biafra struggle alone. Stop castigating IPOB Rubben Abati. Rubben Abati was writing junks about IPOB and its decision on radio Biafra broadcaster, what is your business over IPOB decisions, are you a Biafran or Igbo man."

The group urged the ace television anchor to "stay off the devil before God Almighty destroys him."

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