PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – The Niger Delta Congress, NDC, on Sunday, December 1, 2024, issued a stern rebuke against recent attempts by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, affiliate, “BRGIE,” to claim Niger Delta territories as part of Biafra.
In a strongly worded e-mailed statement to The Trent signed by Mudiaga Ogboru, the national spokesperson, the NDC denounced the “provocative and unrecognised annexation” of Niger Delta lands during a “Biafra Declaration Day” event held in Finland.
The group, led by Simon Ekpa, a dual Nigerian-Finnish citizen, has been accused of promoting a divisive agenda that threatens the region’s sovereignty and self-determination.
“The ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta—comprising the peoples of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States—have no connection, past or present, with the ideological farce that is Biafra,” the NDC stated.
The group emphasised that the Niger Delta has a distinct history and identity, separate from Biafra.
It has long advocated for self-determination and resource control, and it rejects any attempts to impose a foreign ideology on the region.
The NDC warned against the “reckless provocations” of IPOB/BRGIE and its affiliates, calling on them to desist from actions that could destabilize the region. The group also urged the Finnish authorities to take action against Ekpa and his group.
“The Niger Delta is neither a pawn in external agendas nor a colony to be appropriated by opportunistic groups,” the NDC declared.
“We are a proud, resilient, and self-determining people, and any attempt to contravene our sovereignty will be met with the full resolve of our collective will.”
The group’s statement comes amid growing concerns over the activities of IPOB and its affiliates, which have been linked to violence and disruption in Nigeria’s southeast region.
The NDC’s stance is likely to further escalate tensions between the two groups.
The full statement is published below:
The Niger Delta Congress (NDC) unequivocally condemns the provocative and unrecognized annexation of Niger Deltan lands in a recent “Biafra Declaration Day” organised by an affiliate of IPOB, under the banner of “BRGIE”, which held in Finland. This audacious attempt by the terrorist group led by Simon Ekpa, a dual citizen of Nigeria and Finland, to impose an illegitimate and divisive agenda on the ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta is not only provocative but constitutes an unacceptable affront to the dignity, sovereignty, and self-determination of our people.
Let it be stated categorically: the ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta—comprising the peoples of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States—have no connection, past or present, with the ideological farce that is Biafra. This fascist and irredentist agenda, driven by an external ethnic group with no mandate from or legitimate claim to the Niger Delta, is an egregious attempt to appropriate identities and resources that do not belong to them.
The people of the Niger Delta have a long and proud history of championing the rights of indigenous peoples. As the first region in Nigeria to demand and articulate the principles of political autonomy and resource control, we are the vanguard of self-determination. Our position is clear: while we categorically reject the retrogressive structure of Nigeria as it stands, we reserve the right to determine our political future on our own terms, free from the impositions of any external group or ideology.
Niger Delta and Biafra are polar opposites. The Niger Delta Congress rejects, in totality, the futile attempts by IPOB/BRGIE and its affiliates to subsume our distinct ethnic identities into their so-called Biafran project. Our people have spoken, repeatedly and unambiguously. We rejected being a part of Biafra when it was first declared in 1967, and not only do we reject it once again, but we will resist it. We are not Biafrans, we will never be Biafrans.
The Niger Delta Congress calls upon IPOB/BRGIE and all its affiliate groups to desist from these reckless provocations and to recognize that our region will never be a theater for their chaos, tragedy, or economic sabotage. The NDC reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that the Niger Delta remains a zone of peace, progress, and economic sustainability for its people.
Furthermore, let it be clear that the Niger Delta’s rejection of Biafra irredentism does not equate to an endorsement of Nigeria’s current political structure, which hinges on the “majorities” subjugating the “minorities”. Our fight for justice, equity, and true federalism remains steadfast. To this end, the NDC will continue to engage all stakeholders in the Niger Delta and beyond to secure our territorial integrity, political autonomy and resource control that is the birthright of our people.
A Warning to Irredentist Agitators: The Niger Delta is neither a pawn in external agendas nor a colony to be appropriated by opportunistic groups. We are a proud, resilient, and self-determining people, and any attempt to contravene our sovereignty will be met with the full resolve of our collective will. Furthermore we would like to call on the authorities of Finland to check the excesses of this terrorist group as the Nigerian authorities have so far been unable to reign them in. Finally the NDC would like to call on the people of Niger Delta to neither be perturbed or distracted by the antics of these ethnic expansionists and genocidaires, while encouraging them to promptly report any suspicious activity capable of destabilizing our land.
Signed:
Mudiaga Ogboru,
National Spokesperson
