The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a scathing rebuke to those it accuses of attempting to rebrand May 30—widely observed as Biafra Heroes Day—as “Igbo Day,” warning that such efforts are a grave insult to the memory of the millions who perished during the Nigerian Civil War.
In a fiery statement released Sunday by IPOB’s spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group reaffirmed that May 30 remains “non-negotiable” as Biafra Heroes Day—a solemn, sacred occasion to honour all martyrs of the Biafran cause, regardless of their ethnic background.
“Biafra is not synonymous with Igbo alone,” the statement declared. “Our martyrs came from across the old Eastern Region—Annang, Ibibio, Efik, Oron, Ijaw, Igbo, and more. They stood united when the world turned its back on us. Their sacrifices are not the property of any single tribe or political association.”
Describing the attempt to rename the day as “Igbo Day” as an act of “historical vandalism,” IPOB accused unnamed political actors of deliberately distorting history to serve partisan interests. It branded the move “the height of historical illiteracy and political opportunism.”
Referencing colonial-era maps and the 1967 Declaration of Biafra, the group argued that the name “Biafra” predates Nigeria and represents a deeper historical identity.
“It is not just a name—it is a sacred covenant written in the blood of over three million souls,” IPOB stated. “No charlatan in a rented suit, hiding behind the faded communiqués of a factional Ohanaeze, has the mandate or moral authority to tamper with this sacred legacy.”
The statement likened Biafra Heroes Day to Europe’s VE-Day and the United States’ Memorial Day—occasions of solemn remembrance, not political theater. IPOB warned that those seeking to trivialize or politicize the date should confine themselves “to the corridors of Nigerian politics, where sycophancy is the legal tender.”
Issuing what it described as a “final warning,” IPOB said it would not further dignify those pushing for the name change with additional responses, insisting that their actions are driven by political survival, not historical truth.
“Those who depend on government stipends should focus on their praise-singing routines,” the group stated. “They must cease desecrating the sacred blood of our heroes with their political gymnastics.”
IPOB confirmed that a full sit-at-home will be observed on May 30, 2025, across all Biafran territories and in the diaspora. Activities will include prayers, candlelight vigils, and public lectures to commemorate the fallen.
The statement concluded with a stark reminder: “In the end, history honours the steadfast, not the sycophants.”
PIONEER NEWS 