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Human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, on Monday, counselled Ndigbo to rise above mere emotions, empty sloganeering, and destructive rhetoric by rejecting narratives that glorify bloodshed, division, and needless sacrifices.
He noted with regret that some individuals have continued to spread misinformation among the Igbo in relation to the struggle for the independence of Biafra, and warned that such falsehoods have caused immense harm to the people.
He said Ndigbo should wholeheartedly embrace a peaceful, disciplined, and people-centred approach anchored on the prevailing human-faced vision of the self-determination project.
Ejiofor, who holds the title of “Dunu–Ezeugosinachi” of his Oraifite community in Ekwusigo council area of Anambra, stated that the future of the Igbo people would not be secured through the celebration of conflict but through wisdom, strategic leadership, truth, and an unwavering commitment to the preservation of human life and dignity.
In a statement titled “MONDAY MUSINGS: THE DEADLIEST WEAPON OF WAR WAS NOT THE GUN—IT WAS PROPAGANDA: From Okokon Ndem to the Digital Age: Why Ndigbo Must Never Again Become Victims of Manufactured Narratives,” Ejiofor said the most devastating consequence of propaganda is not merely the distortion of facts but the gradual destruction of independent judgment.
“No cause, however noble or divinely inspired, can succeed if it is built upon manipulation and misinformation. Truth is not an obstacle to any genuine struggle; it is its strongest foundation,”, he said.
According to him, once people lose the ability to distinguish truth from carefully manufactured falsehoods, they surrender the very instrument required for their progress.
He further noted that history remains an uncompromising teacher and that whenever truth is sacrificed on the altar of propaganda, generations inevitably pay the price.
“The greatest tragedy is not merely that history repeats itself, but that mankind often refuses to learn from its most painful lessons”, he said.
Ejiofor recalled that for every Igbo family that witnessed or inherited the painful memories of the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), one name remains inseparable from the history of that conflict—Okokon Ndem, the unforgettable voice of Radio Biafra.
Okokon Ndem, he said, was gifted with remarkable eloquence and extraordinary oratory, and his broadcasts became the heartbeat of Biafra’s wartime information campaign.
Through emotionally charged commentaries and psychological messaging, Okoko Ndem, he noted inspired millions and projected unwavering confidence in the Biafran cause.
“Yet, like virtually every wartime broadcaster in history, his broadcasts also demonstrated the immense power of propaganda and disinformation in shaping public perception during armed conflict,” he said.
He stressed that wars are fought not only with bullets but also with narratives, adding that temporary emotional victories achieved through propaganda can never be a substitute for objective reality.
“History repeatedly reminds us that when comforting falsehoods replace uncomfortable truths, the human cost is often devastating,” he added.
Drawing parallels with the present, Ejiofor said that decades after the guns of the Civil War fell silent, disturbing similarities have emerged in some aspects of today’s self-determination discourse.
He observed that while social media has given everyone a microphone, it has also given falsehood an unprecedented audience.
He said that individuals with little knowledge of strategy or leadership now routinely manufacture sensational claims, imaginary victories, and unverifiable narratives, while vulnerable people consume such information without critical examination.
“The tragedy is not simply that lies are told; it is that they are believed,” he stated.
He lamented that thousands of lives have been lost, communities traumatised, businesses destroyed, and economic activities crippled because many people chose emotion over reason and propaganda over truth.
“Yet, despite these undeniable realities, there are still professional propagandists and their loyal apologists who continue to market deception as patriotism,” he added.
Ejiofor, however, described the recent developments as encouraging, which have brought about a change in the status quo and a renewed direction under the leadership of the Directorate of State (DOS), headed by Mazi Chika Edoziem.
He said the current leadership has departed completely from what he described as the previous pattern of misinformation, propaganda, and deception.
According to him, the leadership has placed greater emphasis on discipline, strategic coordination, responsible leadership, and the pursuit of non-violent mechanisms of agitation, thereby restoring confidence in a cause that must always be anchored on truth rather than manipulation.
He said that if the aspiration for self-determination was genuinely rooted in justice, equity, and the collective welfare of the people, then transparency, honesty, and accountability must remain non-negotiable guiding principles.
“This is particularly so because the right to self-determination is an inalienable and sacrosanct right, firmly recognised and protected under applicable international law as well as the extant domestic legal framework,” he said.
Ejiofor further urged Ndigbo to ensure that history does not become a cycle they are condemned to relive, noting that the painful lessons of the Civil War should inspire wisdom rather than repetition.
“Our future will never be secured by the loudest voices on social media, but by leaders and followers who possess the courage to confront reality, the humility to learn from history, and the integrity to speak the truth, even when it is inconvenient.
“Only then can we honour the sacrifices of yesterday while safeguarding the destiny of tomorrow,” he said.