Every group like IPOB will be proscribed – Presidency

Shehu

The Presidency, on Thursday, said every other group that operated like the secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra, would also be proscribed and tag a terrorist organisation.



The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this during a live television programme titled, ‘Sunrise Daily’ on Channels Television.

Shehu said IPOB operated like Boko Haram by declaring an independent state and hoisting a foreign flag on Nigerian soil.

He also accused the secessionist group of printing Biafran currency; issuing Biafran passports and extorting money from people under the guise of compulsory tax collection.

When asked what the Federal Government would do if a similar group emerged following the proscription of IPOB, Shehu said, “If another group comes up and produces passports and produces currency and sets up an intelligence agency and a para-military organisation of sorts, the law will apply to them as it did to IPOB.”

The President’s spokesman said groups like the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, would not need to be proscribed because they were not as violent and unruly as IPOB.

He said the Arewa youths, who issued a notice to quit to Igbo, were not given the IPOB treatment because they had withdrawn their threat and had succumbed to the voice of reason.

Shehu, however, said the same could not be said of IPOB.

The President’s aide also rubbished arguments that the Federal Government was treating the herdsmen crisis with kid gloves.

He said, “There is a criminal activity and terrorist activity. Yes, the Fulani herdsmen are a criminal gang and they are being dealt with in accordance with the law but IPOB, like Boko Haram, has carved out a territory as a sovereign state and they have raised concerns in Kogi and Benue and have boasted that they will take over Bayelsa and Rivers.

“That was exactly what Boko Haram did and the taxation system and hoisting of flags. This is not acceptable.”

When asked why the government was able to quickly identify the source of IPOB’s funding but had failed to trace that of Boko Haram, Shehu said IPOB’s case was easier because they usually canvassed funds openly.

He said, “Funding is canvassed for IPOB openly in some Western countries and traders of Nigerian origin in these countries send money back home. Why is the government not able to identify the source of funding for Boko Haram?

“It is perhaps more complicating than we are seeing and if you look at the President’s message at the United Nations, he asked for the funding of Boko Haram be traced and blocked.”
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  1. The dictatorship is back.

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  2. Presidency gone crazy!

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  3. Shehu simply does not sound intelligent just like the AGF, Abubakar Malami

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  4. Anonymous 11:37. I appreciate yr comment.wha IPOB is doing cannotated email done in any developed country in the name freedom of expression and grouping.Would they somebody raise his flag and rent his passport and demarcated his owname territorial border then threaten the Federal government that they can't arrest themy and if attempted will finished. Where are we ? Stupid half baked literate.

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  5. Anonymous 3:37. I appreciate your comment. What IPOB is doing cannot be done anywhere in the name of freedom of expression. Demarcating its own territory. Printing its currency, flag and passport. Threatening the Federal government not to come to those areas.killing police officer.Going round with arms . Having forces. etc.Where are we living? Stupid half baked literates.

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  6. Telling the people of a specific State that election would not be held is abuse of freedom.Who is Kanu to declare that election should not be held in a State that constitutionally is part of the country having reps and senators in the house. It is too much. He should be cautioned.

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  7. After seeing all the lists charges against IPOB i am made to understand that IPOB had really sin greatly. Any body as President will not accept this. I was angry because Arewa Youths who issued quit notice were not arrested but they were wise enough to withdrew the notice before it was late. So i think everything is normal to me now.

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  8. They mean every non fulani group that the president does not like will be proscribed.

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  9. Tyranny Government. As we speak here Catasonia in spain are facing the same problem. The government did not use the military to kill their citizen. They only call for a referendum. The Federal Government should call for Referendum and Restructure the system back in 1963-67 constitution by geo political zones,getting raid of this constitution made by the military.

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