The Indigenous People of Biafra has restated that the ban on the consumption of cow meat from the Fulani region in the South-East is still in force.
The group also insisted that stopping the long preservation of corpses in the mortuary, among others is a project that must be accomplished in the region.
These were made known by the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Wednesday.
IPOB had in late 2021 announced the ban on the consumption of Fulani cow meat in the South-East with effect from April, 2022.
But in the statement, the pro-Biafra group said after due consideration, it decided to be flexible about the implementation of the decision to give the people of the region the room to gradually transit to the new order, saying that it did not back out from the injunction because of cowardice or lack of will.
The group insisted that every of its agenda must be accomplished.
The statement read in part, “We the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra under the leadership and command of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to reiterate once again that any projects or advice or order issued by IPOB, either as a short, mid or long term project must be accomplished.
“The saying that ‘old habits die hard’ is applicable to some attitudes and lifestyles that have been with our people for a long time and cannot be changed overnight. For instance, stopping the long preservation of corpses in the mortuary and the ban on consumption of Fulani cow meat.
“These are lifestyles that have been with our people that cannot be changed overnight but it’s a mid/long term project that must be accomplished.
“IPOB giving advice or issuing orders, as the case may be, does not mean that everything will stop overnight. Therefore, IPOB members who have been toughened by the long-term project for Biafra struggle and people with intelligent minds understand instructions that are immediate and the ones that require a bit of time to accomplish.
”Whatever advice or order IPOB gives, will always have our people’s interest and welfare at the centre of such order. Some of the brilliant advice or orders we have issued will require time and continuous efforts and sensitisation before they can be accomplished.
“IPOB has never and can never abandon the project of ending Fulani cow meat consumption in Biafraland but we want our people to increase the breeding of our own local cows (Efi Igbo) before the order will be fully implemented.
“We are happy that the order has recorded very good progress in the sense that hitherto we have one or two people rearing Efi Igbo( Igbo cows) but today more people are going into that business.
“We have not reached our objective yet and this is why we encourage more people and more investment in ranching for local cows so that when the order is fully implemented we have cow meat sufficiency in Biafraland.
“Concerning the appeal to our people to start burying our departed loved ones within the shortest possible time and later fixed date for burial ceremonies also require sensitisation and engagement with relevant bodies or institutions in order to impact the benefits to our people.
“The sensitisation will continue until our people understand the negative spiritual implications and the financial burden inherent in keeping corpses in the mortuary for a long time. We will involve both religious and traditional institutions to ensure this advice is implemented for our own good.”
