Leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, yesterday, gave what he termed as genuine reasons the United Nations should allow Biafra to be separated from Nigeria.
One of the reasons, he stated, was that the population of the former Eastern state, now South East and part of South South that make up Biafra land can currently boast of over 10 million people, adding that the Biafran people naturally do not share similar culture and tradition with Hausa-Fulani of the North and Yoruba of the South West as to continue to remain together under one country called Nigeria.
According to Uwazuruike, another reason was that MASSOB, as a separatist group, had all it takes to run a sovereign state of Biafra, having had enough instruments, structures, flag, currency, coat of arms and defence to assume a status of an existing government.
Uwazuruike, who spoke to newsmen, yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, through MASSOB’s Deputy National Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, ahead of the on-going UN General Assembly, renewed his call on the world body to accord a recognition to Biafra as a sovereign state, just as it did to South Sudan which had been accorded a sovereign status since July 9, 2011.
He recalled that US had classified Nigeria, Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan as failed states which needed to be divided between 2011 and 2015, adding that it was only from Sudan that South Sudan was carved out on July 9, 2011, remaining Nigeria, Ethiopia and Somalia.
He cited examples of carving out of East-Timor with only a population of about 821,000 from Indonesia on May 22, 2002; carving out of Serbia with a population of about 10 million from Montenegro on July 2006; carving out of South Ossertia from Georgia and carving out of Kosovo from Serbia on February 17, 2008.
He, therefore, urged UN to grant the sovereignty of Biafra to save the people from further annihilation in Nigeria since there was no basis whatsoever for Biafra people’s continued stay with Nigeria, adding, “Nigeria cannot make any appreciable economic progress until Biafra is allowed to go, particularly now that Lord Fredrick Luggard’s amalgamation of 1914 has since January 1, 2014, expired after 100 years of the amalgamation.”
He wondered why the UN had not been proactive in tackling the knotty problems of the oppressed in Nigeria and asked rhetorically: “is UN waiting till things degenerate into full blown war again or to continue as genocide before they will act?”
Uwazuruike go and die. Nnamdi Kanu we know
ReplyDeletehmmm leave them to die
DeleteUnity of this Country is the best wish any person or group of persons should take as a priority rather than seeking for disintegration. I called on my South Eastern and South South brothers and sisters to support the unity of this country as an entity rather than seeking for ways and agitation for separation, especially as we are celebrating this great nation's Independence @ 55. What Joint us is far more better than what will separate us. ONE NIGERIA ONE NATION.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity people don't know what they call war. Its only the survivors that will explain better. Even after carving, greedy and ethnicity will kill that territory.
ReplyDeleteSakabula or what do call yourself. Do you cry more than the bereaved? If they will die or kill each other as a result of being carved out,what business of yours is it? What makes it a crime to seek to normalize the mistakes of late Lord LUGARD and his British imperial INJUSTICES and WICKEDNESS?
DeleteSakabula, I wonder why you are talking of war when Uwazuruike was talking of freedom. They are not the same concept. People must not go to war before they are declared independent. A part of Spain is today seeking for independence which they are likely to get just through the people's vote. I can also happen here. Leave them to worry about greedy and ethnicity that you see will kill them.
ReplyDeleteRalph is a businessman. Rich Igbo fools are sponsoring his crazy drama. And he's smiling to the bank. He has no other means of livelihood. Go on Ralphie.
ReplyDeleteYou are all bunch of rebels. No body care.
ReplyDeleteBros, pls do it the proper way, war is not fought on websites and newspaper pages. You can go your separate ways in a civilized manner without shedding innocent people's blood. Ojukwu did same and lived in affluence till he died.
ReplyDeleteWhat is this about war? Did MASSOB declare war? Or will you declare it?
Deletehonestly the ibos are ripe to hav their country if they so request...afterall their populationis more than Togo , cotonu , guinea , swaziland, gambia etc ....i blv the united nations will surely approve their application at the right time
ReplyDeleteMassob is not asking for too much provided majority of the Ibos are in support of the creation of a Biafra State. The above argument is valid and incontrovertible .
ReplyDeleteThe initial fears of the opposition is what becomes of the oil that we all lay claims deceptively.
Massob does not even make it a focus of their pleading.
In any case, most of the ethnic groups have not hidden their disdain to association with Ibos particularly in relation to vices associated with their unbridled thirst for wealth as any cost ie drug trafficking , kidnapping, money ritual, political idolatry, etc. these vices have brought Nigerians condemnation and ridicule across the world
I also believe that the best in their intellect will be given vent to develop as they grapple with challenges of survival.
It is undeniable that the keys to technological and industrial breakthrough in West Africa lies in the hands of Ibos, but this intellect is suppressed by focus on Ijaw (nay Nigerian) wealth
And so if Igbos have the change to shape thier destiny and lift themselves out of poverty the same people who would be kidnappers will then be the lawyers businessmen etc.
DeleteThese disgruntled pseudo-Biafra are still living in fools paradise.
ReplyDeleteWhen did MASSOB get the consent of the South-South and South-East people to be part of the anticipated Biafra? When did MASSOB even confirm by referendum among the Igbo states that they want to quit being part of Nigeria? The South Sudan people had a referendum that confirmed they wanted to leave Sudan, and that was the basis of the UN support for the creation of South Sudan. Ralph Uwazuruike and his team are seriously self-deluded.
ReplyDeleteDear my fellow Igbo man Uwazurike, l think l have this piece of advice to offer. It is not reasonable to Igbos to remain Fugitives in a country we belong. It is not in the blood of Igbos to run away from any group of people for the fear of being persecuted instead we should be the one to persecute others. At this point in time let us face the country with a purpose to dominate the country rather than shy away from them.
ReplyDeleteAn average Igbo man is known by domineering instinct and with that spirit we should at this point try to take over Nigeria and should dump the idea of secession.
I will support any type of war provided that ndigbo take over this country. I don't support secession, I support fighting for the right of Ndigbo in this country to repossess our birth right.
If we are actually united, with this type of solidarity motive, we will sure dominate this country in no distant time. Please rethink!!!
I think it is high time United Nations should act to separate Briafra from Nigeria. Biafra has whatever it takes to survive as a nation, and they should be allowed to go. Kudos to all igbo people who continued to fight for this course despite numerous humiliation from Nigeria government.
ReplyDeleteAgada, I believe that it is the fear others have of the domination that you are proposing that has led some to continue being hostile towards us (the igbos), and was the seed of all the bad events that eventually led to the Biafran war. Rather than seek domination, let us seek integration and fair co-existence. Some of us are already achieving this at individual level, so we should promote it at a higher level.
ReplyDeleteLet this be said loud and clear: If the Ibos want to separate from Nigeria, they should be allowed to do so BUT they should know that Cross River and Akwa Ibom States are NOT interested in joining that union. If Rivers and Bayelsa States are interested in the union, they may join. After all, their names are similar, eg, Amaechi, Azikiwe. But for peace sake, they should leave out Cross River and Akwa Ibom. There is no connection between Essien and Nwankwo or Akpan and Nnamdi.
ReplyDeleteWhich Rivers people would join Igbos? The Rivers people that lynched Igbos who tried to repossess their properties in Port Harcourt after the war? You must be joking. I have lived decades in that part of the world and I know that a Rivers person detest Igbos deeply. The fact is that the Biafra MASSOB is clamouring for would be land-locked. None of the coastal states in the South-South or South-East would join them.
DeleteLet us get our independence first, annexing the South- South will not be a problem. Delta may be a little difficult though, but I think our cousins there will join us.
DeleteThere are igbo names in Akwa Ibom also. I suspect very strongly that the rest of the SS would join Biafra if they get a good agreement signed up. They would hate to be left in Nigeria without the SE, If they get some type of confederal or truly federal deal I am sure they would fly the biafran flag. In there hearts they know they are brothers really. Afterall clearly they would not be suffering like this in biafra.
ReplyDelete