By Rabi’u Sunusi
The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, had in 2017 criticized the Federal Government’s decision to proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and designate the group as a terrorist organization.
Obi made the remarks during an appearance on the television programme Politics Today on channelstv.com on October 1, 2017.
A video clip of the interview, which was later published on YouTube, has recently resurfaced and is gaining traction on social media.
IPOB is a separatist movement advocating for the creation of an independent Biafran state from Nigeria’s South-East region and parts of the South-South.
The group has faced allegations of involvement in violent attacks in the South-East, leading the Federal Government to proscribe it in 2017 and classify it as a terrorist organization.
However, Obi disagreed with the designation, maintaining that IPOB members were not terrorists.
“The only thing I disagree with is naming IPOB terrorists. They are not terrorists. Those who took the decision may have information that I don’t have,” Obi said during the interview.
The former Anambra State governor explained that his personal interactions with members of the group did not support the government’s position.
“I live in Onitsha, and I can tell you they are not terrorists. They are people I pass on the road every time, every day,” he stated.
Obi further argued that IPOB members did not pose a threat to public safety.
“I meet them and live with them. In fact, I usually see IPOB people gathering, and not one day has there been a threat, molestation, or anything from them, even when they gather,” he added.
At the time of the interview, Obi was a member of the (PDP).
Efforts to obtain comments from Obi’s former campaign spokesperson, regarding the resurfaced video were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages seeking clarification reportedly went unanswered.
Meanwhile, the proscription of IPOB has continued to generate debate among prominent Nigerians.
In 2022, Nobel Laureate questioned the government’s decision to proscribe IPOB while not taking similar action against the cattle breeders’ association.
Speaking during the Newsnight programme on Channels Television, Soyinka expressed concern over what he described as inconsistency in the government’s approach to groups accused of violence and inflammatory rhetoric.
“Why are you proscribing IPOB without proscribing Miyetti Allah?” Soyinka asked.
