Tensions escalated on Wednesday between the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over the alleged inclusion of the Niger Delta region in IPOB’s Biafran secessionist agenda. The dispute centers on PANDEF’s rejection of the idea that Niger Delta communities should be part of the Biafran cause.
In a statement issued from Port Harcourt, PANDEF’s National Youth Leader, Donben Donyegha, firmly rejected any association with Biafra and reiterated the group’s commitment to a united Nigeria built on equity, justice, and federalism. Donyegha expressed frustration over the alleged inclusion of Niger Delta communities in IPOB’s plans, calling it provocative and insulting to the region’s leaders and people. He warned that any further attempts to associate Niger Delta towns with Biafra would be met with resistance. Niger Delta is not Biafra, he declared, emphasizing that the region has no intentions of joining the secessionist movement.
The statement also reinforced PANDEF’s advocacy for a united Nigeria under a federal system where states control their resources and contribute taxes to the Federal Government. We believe in the unity of Nigeria, but it must be a Nigeria where sub national entities control their God given resources while supporting the centre with taxes for territorial integrity and foreign diplomacy, Donyegha added.
In response, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful dismissed PANDEF’s concerns as garbage.He refuted claims that IPOB was forcing communities to join the Biafran cause, attributing such accusations to a splinter group acting under the guise of IPOB. Powerful clarified that IPOB does not impose its agenda on any community, stating, Those doing so in the name of Biafra are content creators from the Finland autopilot group, and they are not part of IPOB. He further emphasized that IPOB’s focus remains on achieving Biafran independence through peaceful means, particularly through a referendum where individuals can freely choose their allegiance.
When the referendum comes, people decide what they want; nobody will force them into the new nation called Biafra,Powerful said, calling for restraint from the media and other groups. He urged that IPOB should not be linked with fringe elements spreading misinformation.
Powerful reaffirmed that IPOB’s stance remains unchanged. IPOB remains what it was from the beginning and will not shift ground until Biafra independence is fully announced by the United Nations, he said, adding that every tribe and clan will have the freedom to decide their fate during the referendum.
As the debate rages on, it is clear that both PANDEF and IPOB are steadfast in their positions, with PANDEF seeking to maintain a united Nigeria and IPOB focused on achieving an independent Biafran state. The outcome of this ongoing confrontation will continue to shape the political landscape in the Niger Delta and beyond.