Some key Diaspora leaders of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have parted ways with the Nnamdi Kanu-led group and are moving fast to gain prominence in the struggle for the actualisation of Biafra. Along this line, the group has floated Radio Biafra International (RBi), with its operational base in Trinidad and Tobago and a satellite studio in the United States of America.

“Since our Maiden broadcast on the 19th day of March, 2017, we have remained committed to our single goal of empowering our people with the knowledge they need to objectively continue the quest for their total independence from the British concocted fraud called Nigeria,” the new IPOB said in a statement issued on Monday by the Head of the Finance Team, Mazi Ogbonnaya Akpa.

The new IPOB, in keeping with its promised transparency, gave a report of the financial stewardship of the Directorate of State (DOS) and the Editorial Board of RBi.

On why it parted ways with Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB, the statement said: “Recall that on the 12th day of January, 2017, the then Leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in full attendance at a Directorate of State (DOS) meeting, decided to expand the media operations of IPOB through the creation of a new broadcasting service in the Americas. Soon after the meeting, a faction of the then leadership abused their position and decided to frustrate the project by refusing to release the money needed to purchase the broadcasting equipment. They also refused to provide the access needed to transmit the broadcast signal through the existing channels of Radio Biafra London. It was at this point that a few individuals stepped in to ensure that this noble idea was given an opportunity to see the light of day.”

The statement dismissed negative reports about its top officials by the Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB. It said: “Contrary to what may have erroneously been circulated on social media and on Radio Biafra London, Mazi Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya, Mazi Ikenna Nwanonenyi, Mazi Leonard Anemene and Mazi Ogbonnaya Akpa, in no order of importance, provided the funds used to kick off RBi and sustain it. More than $6,000 have, so far, been committed to this project by these individuals to date. And for the sake of privacy demanded by these individuals, the actual contributions will not be announced today. This information however is available to financially committed IPOB members through their principle servants.

“Following the decision to expand the reach of RBi beyond cyberspace, a private appeal was made and an illustrious Biafran willingly supported this effort with $10,000. Various IPOB families around the world, working with the DOS also answered the call to support this expansion and have so far raised about $4,000. Of note are the IPOB families the Caribbean, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. An estimated sum of $6,000 is still expected to be brought in by IPOB families worldwide. These monies have been earmarked for special projects and would be properly accounted for once the projects have progressed as desired.

“Another major recurrent expenditure that has been sponsored by IPOB families worldwide is the rent for our Embassy in Vitoria Spain. The various continents of Asia, Europe and North America have taken turns to bear this burden of €1,500 monthly.

“Our promise to all stakeholders in this noble project is that this financial stewardship update will be given periodically and no longer than quarterly.

“Long live Biafra and long live Biafrans.”

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