The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) reaffirmed on Monday that their goal is the establishment of an independent Biafra, not the creation of additional states in the Southeast.
This statement comes amid discussions about establishing 31 new states across Nigeria, including five in the Southeast: Etiti, Adada, Urashi, Orlu, and Aba.
However, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful dismissed the idea, arguing that the current states are already bankrupt and dysfunctional.
In a statement, Powerful emphasized that instead of adding more states, which would only worsen confusion, disunity, and insecurity, Nigeria should be dissolved due to its deep-rooted corruption and structural failures. He criticized past and present Nigerian leaders for using state creation as a tool for political manipulation, particularly to favor the North, while further weakening the regions.
Powerful traced Nigeria’s political and economic struggles back to military-era decisions, particularly General Yakubu Gowon’s creation of 12 states to divide Biafrans during the civil war. He also blamed subsequent military rulers, such as Murtala Muhammad, Ibrahim Babangida, and Sani Abacha, for expanding state creation policies that entrenched inequality and dependency on federal allocations.
Rejecting the proposed new states, IPOB insisted that the Igbo people need reunification, not further fragmentation. The group reiterated its demand for a peaceful and democratic referendum to allow Biafrans to decide whether to remain in Nigeria or establish an independent nation.