By Chinonso Alozie

Owerri- The Igbo Biafra Nationalists, IBN, has tacked the House of Representatives over a call to investigate one Amaka Patience Sunnberger, a Nigeria -Canada resident over alleged hate speech against the Yoruba or Benin people.

IBN convener, Uche Mefor, spoke to newsmen in Owerri, while reacting to an issue about Amaka.

While he said he condemned hate speech in all ramifications but also talked about the need to deal with the hate speech against the Igbos in the country.

IBN among other things said: “The recent call by the Nigerian House of Representatives to investigate Amaka Patience Sunnberger, currently under scrutiny by Canadian authorities for alleged death threats and poisoning remarks directed at Yoruba and Edo communities, is both hypocritical and deceptive. While her actions may be deemed ill-advised, they must be understood as a last resort in self-defence, prompted by the Nigerian government’s deliberate failure to prosecute past offenders of hate speech and ethnic slurs against the Igbo people.

“As Igbo-Biafra Nationalists and members of the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-Determination, we welcome the investigation by the Canadian police. We believe it is essential that this issue is thoroughly scrutinised, both within Canada and on an international scale, particularly considering the broader context involving Nigeria. We believe that if properly investigated, the hypocrisy of the Nigerian state against the Igbos would be laid bare to the global community.

“We unequivocally condemn hate speech in all forms. However, in this particular case, we contend that Amaka’s actions were a defensive response to the sustained, state-sponsored hate speech, ethnic slurs, and systemic discrimination directed at the Igbo ethnic group. The Igbo community has faced repeated threats to their economic, individual, and political interests both within Nigeria and abroad. There have been numerous instances where Nigerian politicians, including the wife of the current president, and other representatives of the Nigerian state, have either directly or indirectly supported this culture of ethnic hostility against the Igbo people. The targeted destruction of Igbo properties and businesses, especially in Lagos, has gone unchecked.

“Despite our calls for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Lagos State Government to prosecute those responsible for promoting Igbophobia and for justice to be served to those behind the “Igbo-must-go” campaign in Lagos, no meaningful action has been taken. This inaction reflects the Nigerian government’s tacit support for the ongoing attacks on the Igbo people. In this light, Amaka’s actions can be seen as a reactionary and defensive measure in the face of the Nigerian government’s unwillingness and inability to address these issues.”

“The House of Representatives call for Amaka’s prosecution or investigation reeks of hypocrisy and deceit, especially considering their failure to take any meaningful action against figures such as Mrs Bola Ahmed Tinubu, MC Oluomo, the Oba of Lagos, Senator Bulkachuwa and others, who have all either engaged in or endorsed hate speech and threats against Igbo lives.

“In response, we, the Igbo-Biafra Nationalists and the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-Determination urge the Igbo community in Canada, both individuals and groups, to stand in defence of Amaka Sunnberger’s right to protect herself and other Igbos against the Nigerian government’s discriminatory campaign against Igbo lives and properties,” he said.