The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, ordered his brother, Prince Emmanuel, to stop making public statements on behalf of himself or the family.
Emmanuel, in January, urged the public to disregard a voice note that had gone viral, alleging that the IPOB Leader was poisoned in detention.
He claimed that he met with the IPOB Leader at the Abuja headquarters of the Department of State Services, DSS, where he is currently detained.
Reliable sources told POLITICS NIGERIA that the statement issued by Prince Emmanuel has degenerated into controversies among top members of the group.
Many believed Emmanuel’s statement downplayed the health challenges of the leader and the concerns for his safety.
They noted that the leader of the group was miffed by the statement released by his brother and has ordered that he should stop making public statements.
POLITICS NIGERIA also obtained a series of correspondences between the IPOB leader and members of the group.
A member of the group who pleaded anonymity confirmed this saying: “It is true that Emmanuel has been ordered to stop making statements. This came from Mazi himself. We are working on settling the issue,”.
As of the time of filing this report, the outlawed group’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, and spokesperson, Emma Powerful, could not be reached for comments.
Inside IPOB’s multiple crises
This comes at a time the IPOB is facing crises in different countries including Germany and South Africa, which has led to the expulsion and suspension of members.
Another Kanu’s sibling, Kingsley Ezebuiro, who is also known as ‘Kanunta’, was suspended from the IPOB branch in Germany late January.
Kingsley’s suspension was announced in a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the group in Germany, Collins Chinedu.
“The lPOB leadership in Germany unanimously suspends him (Kingsley) indefinitely from the family of IPOB in Germany led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu with effect from today, the 21st of January 2023,” the statement read.
Kingsley was also accused of engaging in activities that bring disrepute to the IPOB globally.
The group said Kingsley is just an ordinary member of IPOB in Landsberg am Lech, Germany, but has been using his affiliation to the detained IPOB leader, Mr Kanu to gain “unmerited super advantage” and has been placing himself above every IPOB rule.
But Kingsley, in a series of tweets, has debunked news of his suspension, stating that it was masterminded by Chinedu, who he claimed has been expelled.
“I am born for a day like this, Kanunta Kanu is very much around”bThis is to inform the general public that Mr Collins Chinedu, was officially expelled from #IpobfamilyGermany by #MaziNnamdiKanu on 28:11:2022 through @AloyEjimakor . And his successor is Mazi OGBONNA ABRAHAM,” he wrote on Twitter.
In another codified tweet, the IPOB leader’s brother challenged Chinedu for not wanting to relinquish his position.
“After all, I am not being paid for serving IPOB – yes you are right. But why do you put up a fight when you’re asked to leave your position?” Kingsley asked.
Like Germany, Like South Africa
Also in January, the South African branch of the group suspended some members for anti-IPOB activities.
This, POLITICS NIGERIA gathered, led to the creation of a parallel organisation within the South African branch.
The suspended members have registered another IPOB branch in Western Cape under which they operate.
But the South African national coordinator, Ogechukwu Isu, has countered the creation of the parallel group.
He reiterated that all communication and requests for marches or any public gathering will only be made through the official Head Office in South Africa based in Johannesburg, Braamfontein.
“It has come to our attention that certain members in various provinces who have been suspended for not abiding by the constitution and code of conduct of the organisation (POB), are going around masquerading and presenting themselves and holding, marches, protests or events in the name of IPOB This is most regrettable and unfortunate because unsuspecting people have been caught unawares and misled by these acts of the imposters concerned.
There is only one IPOB registered with the CIPC with the registration numbers 2019/593089/08 or further with registration number 2022/618519/08, which is the NPC registration and Welfare registration but to all intents and purposes referring to the same organisation,” he stated.
A Family Business?
Furthermore, It was gathered that Kanu, who is very unhappy with the crisis in the group, also instructed his brother, Emmanuel to confirm the status of some foreign bank accounts owned by the group from Kingsley adding that they should also give feedback on the amount of funds held in them.
This newspaper gathered that the crisis in Germany which led to Kingsley’s suspension was also partly caused by the discovery of over 700,000 Euros stockpiled in one of the organisation’s account managed by him.
In a sane country,people in government do not assume the ‘know it all posture’ in making policies at both conceptual and delievery stage so to me ,the vp spoke well but it is an after thought.We ate in a very complex country where governance requires capable,highly disciplinen minds to acfually get things done and not political scavengers as we have now.