The leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has appealed to the Federal Government to unconditionally release the detained Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
Uwazuruike made the appeal Thursday while addressing loyalists and friends of MASSOB, who stormed Owerri, the Imo State capital for the third anniversary of the death of Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu.
Some dignitaries that honoured the event included, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd.), who was the Special Guest of Honour. He was also accompanied to the event by more than 70 persons.
Others included Alhaji Yerima Shettima, President, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum; Prof. Alu Danladi, Ambassador John Fashanu, Alhaji Abdullahi Zaria, Alhaji Sale Hassan, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu, Alhaji Zallari Bello and Alhaji Aminu Gwaru.
Speaking on the peaceful disposition of MASSOB in its agitation, Uwazuruike said: “We are not operating from any foreign country. The so called Radio Biafra, London, was opened by MASSOB in London and Nnamdi Kanu appointed as the Director, after MASSOB had operated Voice of Biafra International in Washington DC for three years. The purpose of Radio Biafra London was to showcase the marginalization of Ndigbo.
He said his group knew the desires of Ndigbo and how to achieve them, noting that those who were threatening fire and brimstone today, were once members of MASSOB before they were expelled due to violence related behaviours.
The MASSOB leader also expressed dismay at the way Ndigbo “castigate, vilify and blackmail their leaders to impress other tribes”, pointing out that “Ndigbo takes delight in killing their leaders to emerge as the new champions.
“Ndigbo are now second class citizens in Nigeria. They will soon be relegated to the third class. Ndigbo blames the Hausa and the Yoruba for their misadventure. Unfortunately, Ndigbo do not see any reason to blame themselves.
“Today, Ndigbo in their usual character, want to decimate MASSOB. They believe that since MASSOB has not achieved Biafra through non-violence for 16 years that they would achieve it through violence”.
Uwazuruike said that those claiming to be champions for the creation of Biafra in their little knowledge, forget that “Igboland is landlocked and that the five states of the South East contribute less than eight per cent of the economy of Nigeria.
“In their little knowledge, they do not know that Ndigbo need deep sea ports to bring in their arms and ammunition to be used to fight an established government of Nigeria.
“There is no Sambisa forest connecting Igboland to other neighbouring countries, through which small arms could be smuggled in”.
Informationng
It's true that Ndigbo has been marginalised by various administrations. Unexplored oil and gas potentials, dilapidated infrastructure, little Federal presence, absence of a sea port despite huge investment potentials, etc. However, I doubt if Biafra is the way forward. The war ended 45 years ago.
RIP Ikemba
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