The Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) has described Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu as one of the South-East politicians that retarded the development of the region.
The pro-Biafra group said the elder statesman remained one of the reasons “Alaigbo is underdeveloped”, adding that “his treachery and greed contributed hugely in retarding development of Igbo land.”
The group stated this on Monday in a statement by its spokesman, Emma Powerful.
Iwuanyanwu had in an earlier statement accused the Nnamdi Kanu led IPOB of endangering Ndigbo and their investment in Nigeria by its activities.
But in its response, IPOB said the Igbo had since been endangered in Nigeria.
It said the claim by Iwuanyanwu was shameful and cowardly and ”smacks of his ignorance of the real genesis of the danger to Igbo investments in Nigeria.”
IPOB statement read in detail, “How many federal contracts were awarded to him (Iwuanyanwu) for execution in South-East, especially road projects? How many of them did he faithfully execute?
“In case he doesn’t know, the current crop of Igbo youths are wise enough to identify true Igbo elders, and Iwuanyanwu is not anywhere close on the list. His chameleonic tricks can no longer work under the current dispensation.
“We are not surprised at such loose and careless remark coming from a supposed elder like Iwuanyanwu who has always taken political advantage of every matter. He is only after protecting his wealth and investment, and certainly not speaking for Igbo interest.
”We advise Iwuanyanwu to stop advertising his ignorance of global economics by giving fake analysis of Igbo investments in Nigeria.
“We are aware, and it’s a public knowledge that the economic power of 54 African countries will come to $26 trillion by the year 2056. With this verifiable statistics, one then wonders where Iwuanyanwu is getting his fake claims that Igbo investments in Nigeria is already worth over $12 trillion.
“Therefore, Emmanuel Iwuanyawu must get his records straight before coming out in public to make unverified analysis about Igbo economic power.
“Besides, no matter the amount of investment Ndigbo have in Nigeria, nothing guarantees its safety under the current political structure of the country.
“In case Iwuanyanwu and his likes do not know, Ndigbo have remained the most endangered species in Nigeria. Their business interests and investment have remained the target of every evil policy in the country.
“The torrents of barbaric and unprovoked attacks against Igbo, their investments and business interests in different parts of Nigeria predate IPOB. Who then will Iwuanyanwu say exposed Igbo investments to those attacks? Was it Kanu or IPOB that caused the genocidal attacks on Igbo that led to the civil war in 1967?”
