https://youtu.be/wD8acsIhq7s?si=dhpv6P4XmOUjU2ak
The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has reiterated that he will not negotiate Biafra’s political future without a referendum, insisting that the people must be allowed to decide their destiny through a free vote.
Kanu made the declaration in an address to the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) during its annual convention held from October 9 to 11, 2026, in Duluth, Georgia, United States.
The convention was held under the theme, “Maka Odi Nma Ndi Igbo,” meaning “For the Good and Benefit of the Igbo People.”
Speaking from detention, the IPOB leader thanked AVID and its members for their continued support, urging the organisation and other pro-Biafra groups in the diaspora to intensify their advocacy for his release and that of other detained supporters.
Kanu Commends AVID for Standing by Him
In his address, Kanu expressed appreciation to AVID President, Dr. Sylvester Onyia, Dr. Godson Obiagwu and other members of the organisation for what he described as their consistent support throughout his detention.
He maintained that his incarceration had not weakened his commitment to the Biafra cause, adding that physical separation could not diminish his gratitude to those campaigning for his freedom.
Kanu also praised AVID for maintaining its position during internal disputes within IPOB. He alleged that the Nigerian government had penetrated the organisation’s Third Administration of the Directorate of State, a development he linked to its dissolution and the expulsion of individuals he accused of betraying the movement.
According to him, AVID remained committed to his leadership and continued to engage with individuals he had appointed.
The IPOB leader further commended Dr. Onyia for travelling to Abuja to attend court proceedings and for accompanying him to hospital when he required medical attention.
He also acknowledged the contributions of Rising Sun and Ambassadors for Self-Determination, describing the organisations as important sources of support during his incarceration.
Kanu urged the groups to sustain their efforts towards securing the release of all individuals he described as unjustly detained.
Seeks More International Pressure Over His Case
Kanu praised AVID for taking his case beyond Nigeria through correspondence with British officials, including the United Kingdom Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the British High Commission in Nigeria.
He said the organisation’s engagement with British authorities was intended to draw international attention to his detention and his allegations concerning his abduction in Kenya, transfer to Nigeria and subsequent prosecution.
The IPOB leader also referenced Dr. Onyia’s attendance at several court sittings as part of efforts to secure his release.
Criticising the handling of his case, Kanu alleged that legal irregularities had undermined the proceedings against him. He raised concerns about the use of statutes he described as repealed and referred to an earlier acquittal as part of his legal arguments.
He maintained that the proceedings against him should not be confused with the broader question of Biafra’s political future.
The allegations and legal interpretations expressed in the address reflect Kanu’s position on his case.
‘I Will Discuss Referendum and Nothing Else’
Reaffirming his position on Biafra’s self-determination, Kanu rejected political negotiations that, in his view, failed to address the question of Biafran sovereignty.
“I will discuss referendum and nothing else,” he stated.
He argued that Biafrans should be allowed to determine through a free vote whether they wished to live under a separate sovereign arrangement.
Kanu dismissed alternative discussions focused on political appointments, restructuring or conferences if they did not directly address the referendum question.
He described his ultimate objective as the establishment of what he called a peaceful Biafran homeland, insisting that his struggle was rooted in freedom, security and self-governance rather than revenge or disorder.
His remarks reaffirmed his longstanding position that a referendum must remain central to any discussion concerning Biafra’s political future.
Recounts Arrests and Years in Detention
During the address, Kanu recounted his encounters with Nigerian authorities, stating that he was first arrested in 2005 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
He also referenced his arrest in Lagos in 2015 and his subsequent transfer from Kenya to Nigeria, which he described as an abduction rather than a lawful arrest.
Kanu said these experiences had strengthened his determination to pursue Biafran self-determination.
He further stated that his years in detention, including periods of solitary confinement, had not changed his position on the movement’s objectives.
The IPOB leader insisted that he would not accept any political agreement that excluded the question of Biafra’s sovereignty.
Calls on Igbo Veterans to Support Self-Determination
Addressing members of AVID, Kanu urged the veterans to apply the principles of self-determination associated with the United States to their ancestral homeland.
He called on them to uphold the reputation of the Igbo people, support marginalised communities and continue advocating for individuals detained over demands for a referendum.
Kanu also referenced the planned gathering at Igbo Landing, a historic site in the United States associated with the memory of enslaved Igbo people.
He described the site as a reminder of the history of resistance to enslavement and urged participants to remain committed to the future of the Igbo people.
The IPOB leader warned against allowing fear and uncertainty to determine what future generations would inherit, urging the diaspora community to sustain its involvement in the self-determination campaign.
Kanu Thanks Supporters, Calls for Continued Advocacy
Concluding his address, Kanu thanked AVID, Dr. Onyia, Rising Sun and Ambassadors for Self-Determination for their continued support.
He urged the organisations and other Biafrans to maintain their campaign for his release and that of other detained supporters.
Kanu reiterated that he remained willing to engage in discussions centred on a referendum but would reject negotiations that failed to address what he considers the fundamental question of Biafra’s political future.
He ended his message with prayers for AVID, the memory of those who had died and the Biafra cause.
His address underscores his continued insistence that a referendum must be central to any proposed resolution of the Biafra question, while urging supporters in the diaspora to sustain international advocacy over his detention.
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