On July 14, 2023, a Twitter user tweeted that Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria promised that if voted into power, he will negotiate with IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu.
72 hours after, the tweet has garneded over 139,000 views.
Since Tinubu assumed the presidency, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has emerged as one of the most prominent agitator groups.The proscribed group has been unleasing mayhem in some states of the region and have continuously called for sit-at-home. Non-compliant individuals have been subjected to attacks and inhumane treatment by these secessionist groups. It is on this premise that some quarters are calling for dialogue with the leaders of the group and the unconditional release of the embattled IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu so as to bring an end to the violence and civil unrest in the south-east region.
Barely two months after he was sworn-in as the president, Bola Tinubu has kept mum on the development. There are however insinuations that the president made no such claim.
Claim: Tinubu said he will negotiate with south-east agitators if voted into power
Verification
On November 24, 2022, Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and now the president of Nigeria, led his campaign train to Ebonyi state. At the campaign ground, he said “we want peace, we will talk to all agitators. This thing is not done by conflict. It is by sitting round the table to complain.”
Similarly, credible media organizations such as the Premium Times, and the Cable reported the story.
Verdict: TRUE
Bola Tinubu, while campaigning in Ebonyi state in November, said that he will negotiate with agitators by sitting round the table and listening to their complaints.
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