Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Rome, approached Cardinal Francis Arinze tried to convince him to get the Pope Francis to speak in favour of Igbos getting Biafra.
In a video shared online, the IPOB members were seen standing with the Nigerian Cardinal, who is from Anambra state in a building in Rome while making their request.
However, 88-year-old Cardinal was not on the same page with them as regards secession and he made this known.
“It is those who did not see the civil war who are talking ‘Biafra, Biafra’. They have no idea,” Cardinal Arinze told the IPOB members.
The Cardinal added that citizens being separated is “not the mandate Christ gave to the Bishops.”
He encouraged the IPOB members to join politics instead and bring about the change they want to see in Nigeria.
He said: “It is for people like you. You get into politics and work hard with others.”
Cardinal Arinze was one of the principal advisors to Pope John Paul II. He was also considered a possible candidate to be elected Catholic Pope before the 2005 papal conclave, which elected Pope Benedict XVI.
Watch the video below: