By Peregba Jerry
The Izon Ibe Defence Forces (IIDF) said it has stood down its call for referendum and declaration of an independent Izon Ibe Republic and subssequent secession from the Nigerian State.
TarakiriVoice reports that the IIDF had on Sunday 1st October, in a statement through its Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Duweamapere, called for secession from Nigeria, declaring “a new nation of Izon Ibe Republic which has gained her INDEPENDENCE from the British colonial contraption established by Great Britain for administration and exploitation of the Nigerian territorial wealth and people.
The statement read in parts, “On this day, being the 1st Day of the Month of October 2023, which is celebrated as Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day, the Izon Ibe Defence Forces (IIDF) wishes to pass a Vote of NO CONFIDENCE on the miserable existence, false independence and forced union of the Nigerian State. The IIDF hereby declares on this day that the Izon Nation and People will no longer remain under the expired colonial contraption which was designed and agreed to last for a period of hundred years (1914 to 2014).
“This is coming on the backdrop of undeniable incongruities and imminent collapse of the Nigerian State owing to systematic failure arising from Islamisation, Fulanisation, Political Instability, gross insensitivity and abuse of power by the ruling political aristocrats, arm proliferation and armed agitation, daily loss of lives to unknown gunmen, herders, ritualists, organ traffickers, armed robbers, security agents and cultism without any glimpse of hope or positive change in sight. This spells doom and worst things to come given that concerned or relevant stakeholders have been handicapped by corruption, complacency, aiding and abetting, sympathizing with insurgents, killer herdsmen and so-called bandits under broad daylight. Our people of Izon land have become victims of the brutal attacks and murder for which the Nigerian State military, paramilitary or police forces are yet to unveil and punish the perpetrators.
However, IIDF on Tuesday, reversed its declaration because of the intervention of critical stakeholders and statesmen of the Niger Delta subregion and to give ample time to the present federal government, which came into power on May, 2023 found their foot.
A statement titled, ‘REVERSAL OF INDEPENDENCE DAY DECLARATION OF IZON IBE REPUBLIC,’ Signed
By Sec, IIDF , Commander Black Cobra and made available to newsmen, stated “The Izon Ibe Defence Forces (IIDF) wishes to inform the general public that it has decided to stand down on the initial decision to declare Izon Ibe Republic which was published on the 2nd of October 2023 in a news release captioned,
“Group Calls For Referendum, Declares Izon Ibe Republic”.
“The above decision was arrived at following advice, calls and pleas from relevant stakeholders, elders, statesmen, groups and leaders in the Niger Delta region that it is too early to take such decision without giving the new government and concerned state actors enough time to put things in order. It was suggested that the declaration be taken down to allow for peaceful negotiations, dialogues and grant the government the opportunity to right the wrongs and injustices meted out to the people of the Izon ethnic group in particular and the Niger Delta region in general. Therefore, IIDF in its careful reconsideration and understanding of the reasons behind the call to back down from the declaration of Izon Ibe Republic has come to the conclusion to reverse its initial stance.
“However, the group wishes to use this medium to charge concerned stakeholders, political leaders and relevant state actors to do the needful in addressing issues related to social injustice, environmental pollution, underdevelopment, exploitation and oppression, marginalisation, insecurity and attacks by killer herdsmen, as well as hardship suffered by the people of the Ijaw ethnic stock and by extension, the people of the Niger Delta subregion. Failure to address these and many other related issues will force the group to proceed with its initial decision to declare peaceful and legitimate secession from the Nigerian State by the Ijaw ethnic nationality to allow her own and control her resources for unprecedented socioeconomic expansion and overall development while at the same time help to defend Ijaw land and people from external aggression and violent attacks coming from killer herdsmen and other invasive elements. The group also reteirates that it will not condone any attacks carried on in any Ijaw territories by killer herdsmen because Ijaw people are peace-loving people but will fight back when pushed to the wall. Therefore, concerned security agents and the Nigerian government at all levels or tiers should use their jurisdiction, authority and power to take full responsibility before the situation degenerates to a point of no return.
“To this end, the IIDF hereby stands down and retracts the statement of independence declaration of Izon Ibe Republic and consequent secession from the Nigerian State,” the statement reads.
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