The Coalition of South East Professionals Network in Nigeria and Diaspora (CSEPNND), has said that it is not a creation of the Department of State Service (DSS), dismissing the claim by the spokesman of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Emma Powerful, that neither the group nor its president, Prof. Madumere Chika, was in existence.
In a statement made available to Blueprint in Abuja on Monday, which was signed by its National President, Prof. Madumere Chika and National Secretary, Mazi Anayo Uchemba, CSEPNND said the intention of IPOB was to harm its famous president, his family and community and challenged the group and its spokesman to a live press conference; for identity revelation.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a watery, and uncoordinated response to our call on the Nigerian authorities to request the extradition of Mr Nnamdi Kanu, from one inconsequential and pseudo character-so-called Emma Powerful, the acclaimed spokesman for the proscribed terrorist group known as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which Mr Kanu leads.
“In its response to our call for the repatriation of the IPOB fugitive leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the terrorists’ image launder did not only refer to our group as being the creation of the Department of State Service (DSS), but also being a fake, non existing one.
“The pseudo Emma Powerful, who has not been seen, sighted anywhere or known by any Igbo man, woman or any other person anywhere in the whole world, went further to deny the existence of our revered and famous president, Prof. Madumere Chika, who is not only recognized nationally, but also internationally.
“We hasten to state here that the IPOB’s response through the nonexistent Emma Powerful is diversionary with intent to blackmail our highly treasured DSS and the Nigerian state from doing the needful on Mr Kanu’s repatriation.
“Ordinarily, we would not have dignified the acclaimed spokesman of the proscribed terrorist’ group with further response so as not to accord him and IPOB any form of legitimacy in the eyes of the reading public but for the purpose of some innocent readers who may fall to Emma Powerful’s concocted lies.
“For the knowledge of IPOB and the miscreants that throng its fold as members, we wish to inform them that we are a legitimate and independent non-violent group of Igbo professionals with our head office in Awka, in Anambra State, Nigeria. We are duly incorporated with all the relevant bodies in Nigeria and have been operating since 2014.
“However, we wish to put on record that we are not a creation of DSS and cannot be. Rather, we are a creation of one Nigeria and good conscience. Also, we are a creation of Igbos who have paid their full dues in Nigeria and are pushing for better deals for their people. Apart from terrorism, kidnapping, extortion, armed robbery and the likes, what value has IPOB brought to the table in the South East?”
The group further said: “We challenge Nnamdi Kanu and Emma Powerful to address a live press conference in Nigeria. Since they claim we are nonexistent, we challenge them to a live press conference on same date with us.
“We are aware of their demands for identity of village and family of our president, Prof. Madumere Chika. We are not unaware of these demands- the intention of the so called Emma Powerful and his proscribed terrorist group is to attack our president and his family, and not because they are in doubt of his identity as they claimed in their response to our statement.
“Prof. Madumere is a renowned scholar with several academic records which are verifiable to his name and Nnamdi Kanu knows this. We will continue to do everything possible to prove that Prof. is legitimate but we will not disclose his identity for security reasons
“For us in this group, we will continue to preach one Nigeria where peace and justice shall reign. We are very much aware that the Nigerian state has not been fair to us in terms of power sharing. But we will continue to make our demands for it through only constitutional means.
“Let it be clear again, that we denounce Nnamdi Kanu and his terrorist group. Kanu and his bunch of misinformed youths cannot speak for or lead the Igbo nation. We reiterate our demand for the repatriation of Nnamdi Kanu to Nigeria to face his criminal trial.”
