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Biafra Cannot Be Declared Twice – IPOB Rejects Simon Ekpa’s Planned Biafra Declaration
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly disavowed a planned re-declaration of the Biafran state by the self-proclaimed Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE).
The controversial announcement, scheduled for December 2 in Finland by the BRGIE, led by detained leader Simon Ekpa, has been dismissed by IPOB as illegitimate and counterproductive.
In a statement issued on Sunday, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, described the proposed declaration as a “scam” orchestrated by individuals seeking to undermine the genuine Biafran self-determination struggle.
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“The noble family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by the indomitable Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wishes to disassociate ourselves from the purported Biafra second declaration by an infamous no-name group,” the statement read. “The so-called declaration is a scam.”
IPOB reiterated that the only legitimate declaration of Biafra was made in 1967 by the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu during the Nigerian Civil War.
The group maintains that its current mission is to restore the sovereignty of that declaration through peaceful means, including a UN-supervised referendum.
“Biafra cannot be declared for the second time by anyone,” IPOB stated. “What we are doing is restoring the sovereignty of the declared Biafra Independence that was forced to surrender through genocide by the Nigerian and British governments.”
The group added, “Heaven declared Biafra once, though short-lived, and on the strength of that declaration, IPOB stands to demand a referendum for Biafrans to decide their political future.”
IPOB accused those behind the Finland event of exploiting the Biafran cause for personal gain and destabilizing the South-East region of Nigeria.
According to the group, the Finland declaration is a calculated attempt to discredit the struggle.
“Those involved in the event in Finland were among the sponsors of insecurity in the South-East Region,” the statement alleged.
“Their agenda is to destabilize the South-East, divide the people, and make the genuine Biafra struggle unattractive to our people. They failed woefully.”
The group also praised the lack of media coverage for the event, calling it a reflection of its irrelevance. “The fanfare in Finland this weekend was ignored by all responsible media organisations,” IPOB noted.
The group accused Ekpa and his associates of being provocateurs working to derail the Biafran movement.
It warned that the sacrifices of those who fought for Biafra’s independence would not be in vain.
“Only fools rush where angels dread to enter,” IPOB cautioned. “Biafra’s struggle is a thing of the spirit because blood has been shed for this ultimate project. Any person, nation, or group who obstructs the Biafra restoration will pay a heavy price.”
IPOB insisted that its focus remains on peaceful advocacy, rejecting the “self-deception” of the Finland declaration.
“IPOB is an informed movement championing the restoration of Biafra sovereignty and freedom and cannot involve itself in self-deception and scamming people with the Biafra project,” the group declared.
Emma Powerful urged Biafrans and their supporters to remain united and focused, dismissing the Finland declaration as an attempt to distract from IPOB’s legitimate efforts.
“This press release is to keep the record straight and disassociate IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the idiocy exhibited in Finland called Biafra second declaration,” he said.
“The Finland Biafra declaration is pure scam by agent provocateurs.”
IPOB concluded by reaffirming its commitment to restoring Biafra through peaceful means, emphasizing the legitimacy of Ojukwu’s 1967 declaration and the need for a referendum to resolve the question of Biafran sovereignty.
In a bid to support low-income workers, Mexico has announced plans to raise its minimum wage by 12% starting January 2025.
The announcement was made Wednesday by Labor Minister Marath Bolaños during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, underscoring the government’s commitment to a “humanist economy” focused on reducing inequality.
The increase will see the daily minimum wage rise from 249 pesos ($12.23) to 278.80 pesos nationwide, while workers in northern border regions will earn approximately 420 pesos per day due to higher regional costs.
This adjustment reflects an agreement between labor and business sectors and builds on significant wage hikes in recent years.
“We continue on the path to rebuild the minimum wage and the purchasing power of Mexican men and women,” Bolaños said, highlighting that the wage has more than doubled—up 135%—since 2018 under successive leftist governments.
President Sheinbaum, who assumed office in October, has committed to maintaining annual wage increases of around 12% throughout her term.
Responding to concerns that the hike could stoke inflation, she dismissed such fears as unfounded.
“They said this would increase inflation. That’s false,” Sheinbaum said, pointing to central bank data indicating the hike will not have significant inflationary effects.
The administration’s long-term goal is to ensure the minimum wage covers 2.5 “basic food baskets,” a measure of essential groceries for a family of 3.7 people, by the end of Sheinbaum’s term.
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to allocate ₦100 million to Nigeria’s Tobacco Control Fund, enhancing its capacity to enforce the National Tobacco Control Act.
During Wednesday’s plenary, Bassey Akiba, representing Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency, emphasised the need for increased funding.
He highlighted that the current allocation of ₦10 million in the 2024 budget falls short of what is required to combat tobacco-related health issues effectively.
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“Tobacco control is crucial due to its impact on preventable deaths, including cancer,” Akiba stated. He warned that inadequate funding could worsen health risks, noting tobacco consumption’s link to cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and cancer.
The House urged the Federal Ministry of Health to provide a detailed report on the Tobacco Control Fund, including its balance, funding sources, and previous expenditures.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas backed the motion, stressing the importance of sustainable funding to reduce dependence on international donors.
The House resolved to advocate for a ₦100 million allocation in the 2025 budget to bolster the fund’s effectiveness.
At the eighth Nigeria Family Planning Conference held in Abuja, medical experts stressed the urgent need to address high fertility rates and low family planning uptake to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
The event, themed “Sustaining Commitments for Family Planning within the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative,” was organised by the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Dr Ejike Oji, Chairman of the AAFP Management Committee, underscored the transformative potential of family planning as a tool for sustainable development. He highlighted its multifaceted benefits, including saving lives, promoting gender equity, and fostering economic growth. According to Oji, “$1 invested in contraceptive services saves $3 in maternal and newborn health costs by reducing unintended pregnancies.”
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Despite some progress, Nigeria’s Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) remains at 15 per cent, with an unmet need of 21 per cent. Dr Oji called for increased collaboration and innovation to meet the FP2030 targets.
Funmilola OlaOlorun, Co-Principal Investigator at Performance Monitoring for Action/Nigeria, emphasised the need for strict adherence to the national family planning blueprint to achieve a two per cent annual CPR increase. “We cannot do business as usual,” she stated, urging for more funding, dedication, and resource mobilisation.
Samuel Oyeniyi, Director at the Reproductive Health Department, acknowledged the slow but steady progress towards FP2030. He emphasised the importance of integrating family planning into broader health initiatives to bridge existing gaps.
The conference highlighted Nigeria’s renewed commitment, including a $4 million government investment in family planning and the integration of family planning services into the healthcare provision fund, ensuring access for marginalised groups.
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