The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has claimed its leader, Nnamdi Kanu was invited to the political rally as a special guest of honour on Thursday, January 30, 2020, adding that the development was an indication that the realisation of a sovereign state of Biafra was at hand.

IPOB made this known in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, made available to ABN TV.

The group said it was ironic that Kanu, who was labelled a terrorist by his home government was treated as an important personality in an event attended by the US president.

The statement read in part, “We, the global family of IPOB, wish to appreciate the leadership of the US Republican Party in Iowa for their invitation to our great leader Nnamdi Kanu as a special guest at Trump’s campaign rally at Des Moines Iowa last Thursday.”

IPOB reassured the people of Biafra of its commitment to actualising the republic of Biafra, saying its collaboration with some powerful countries is already yielding results.

President Muhammadu Buhari has described as deliberate misinformation the assertion of PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Alh. Atiku Abubakar that United States extended their visa ban to Nigeria due to lack of the government’s respect for Human rights.

The president in a tweet by his Special Adviser on New Media, Lauretta Onochie posted: “FACTS AND FICTION
“It is utterly disgraceful that a former VP of Nigeria and the 2019 Presidential candidate of @OfficialPDPNig, @atiku, would deliberately, misinform and mislead Nigerians.
“What sort of a leader disrespects his people in this way?
He should apologise to Nigerians”.

Atiku had also in a tweet pleaded with the US President, Donald Trump to reconsider his visa ban policy on Nigerians should not be punished for inefficiencies of the government.

“The current Nigerian administration may have its deficiencies and deep faults, but the Nigeria people ought not to be punished for their inefficiencies” his tweet partly read.

President Muhammadu Buhari has described as deliberate misinformation the assertion of PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Alh. Atiku Abubakar that United States extended their visa ban to Nigeria due to lack of the government’s respect for Human rights.

The president in a tweet by his Special Adviser on New Media, Lauretta Onochie posted: “FACTS AND FICTION
“It is utterly disgraceful that a former VP of Nigeria and the 2019 Presidential candidate of @OfficialPDPNig, @atiku, would deliberately, misinform and mislead Nigerians.
“What sort of a leader disrespects his people in this way?
He should apologise to Nigerians”.

Atiku had also in a tweet pleaded with the US President, Donald Trump to reconsider his visa ban policy on Nigerians should not be punished for inefficiencies of the government.

“The current Nigerian administration may have its deficiencies and deep faults, but the Nigeria people ought not to be punished for their inefficiencies” his tweet partly read.

Former Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, posted a couple of tweets in reaction to the travel ban against Nigeria, expressing sadness and stating reasons why he believed the US should reconsider its decision against Nigeria

Atiku said, I received with sadness the policy of the government of the United States of America to place Nigeria on its travel ban list.

While I understand the reasons given by the Trump administration (the failure of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration to share information and to address issues of terrorism), the ban does not take into account the pro-American sentiments of the Nigerian public and the solidarity previous Nigerian administrations have had with the United States.

I urge the government of President Donald Trump to consider the history of US-Nigerian relationships.

Nigeria was one of the few African nations that joined the US-led coalition during Operation Desert Storm between 1990-1991 when the United States championed the liberation of Kuwait.

The Trump administration may also consider the pivotal role Nigeria, in partnership with the US, played in bringing peace to Liberia, an American sphere of influence, that now enjoys democracy because Nigerian blood and money paved the way for peace in that nation.

Nigeria has also consistently voted in support of the United States and her allies at the UN and other multilateral world bodies. This is even as we are perhaps the biggest trading partner that the United States has in Africa, even where we had alternatives.

Nigerians love the United States and have been a major force for the positive development of that great nation: 77% of all Black doctors in the United States are Nigerians,” Atiku added.

Nigerians are also the most educated immigrant community in America bar none.

Surely, the US stands to benefit if it allows open borders with a country like Nigeria that is able to provide skilled, hardworking and dedicated personnel in two-way traffic.

The current Nigerian administration may have its deficiencies and deep faults, but the Nigerian people ought not to be punished for their inefficiencies.

Once again, I call on President Donald Trump to consider adopting measures that individually target those in government who have failed in their duties, rather than target the entire Nigerian population.