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Tag: MASSOB

  • MASSOB faction disown anti Jega protest march

    MASSOB faction disown anti Jega protest march

    The MASSOB national director of information, Uchenna Madu has dissociated the group from Friday’s march calling for the removal of INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega.

    In a terse statement he issued issued Friday, Madu said: ‎”Today’s rally is against the interest of MASSOB as such diminishes the image and status of the organization.

    Uwazuruike has so commercialized himself with his shameful and uncontrolled romance with the politician that he has suddenly become the political errand boy of Abuja.

    Public protest for the removal of Jega is for civil right groups, non- governmental organizations and some sponsored groups not MASSOB as a Biafran agitation group.

    How can Uwazurike be so insensitive, callous and wicked against the relatives of members who died in active services of MASSOB.

    He does not console or sympathize with their family members but has the money to hire people for this shameful protest rally.

    “Uwazurike paid N500,000 for each LGA to hire people for todays (Friday) rally with a communiqué written by him for submission to the press,” he said.

  • MASSOB shuts down Enugu, says Jega must go

    MASSOB shuts down Enugu, says Jega must go

    Members of the pan-Biafran organisation, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Friday marched round major streets of Enugu calling for the removal of INEC’s chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

    Displaying placards of various inscriptions, the pro-Biafrans, most of whom clad in navy blue uniform with the Biafran rising sun insignia assembled at Edinburgh Road, New Layout, from where they ‎trooped to the major streets of Enugu chanting solidarity songs.

    Some of the placards read: “Jega must go”, “Jega has compromised”, “No election with Jega on seat”, “Jega is not impartial” etc.

    They were led by their Enugu zonal chairmen, Mrs. Augustina Ugwuoke, Ben Ekwunugo and E. Ilogu in the peaceful protest march.

    The MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike in a telephone chat told our correspondent that ‎: “We organising the protest against Jega because he is biased and cannot conduct a credible election for Nigerians.

    “We know that he is in favour of APC and if allowed to conduct the elections,  he will definitely favour the party and when that happens,  there will be crisis and people will die.

    “The crisis will and can even lead to a war and we don’t want bloodshed.

    “We are not hiding the fact that we are supporting Jonathan because of the burial he gave to our leader, Ojukwu and therefore we are sure that if the election is free and fair that Jonathan will win.”

  • MASSOB: A rough road to self-determination

    MASSOB: A rough road to self-determination

    The Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), one of the foremost separatist groups in the country, is also one of the most attacked, despite its non-violence stance, writes OKODILI NDIDI

    The movement, founded in 1999 by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, a soft-spoken but strong-willed lawyer, was initially dismissed with a wave of the hand by prominent Ndigbo as a self-serving militant group. Consequently, it was rejected by the very people it was meant to protect. Even now, schisms exist and some of its initial momentum appears lost. In Enugu State, the group seems inactive, more or less so in Anambra State. Still, MASSOB remains the major platform of agitation for the Igbo Agenda, especially the realisation of an independent Biafran state, a dream since the civil war.

    Fifteen years after, however, the journey to self-determination has not been rosy. If anything, it has been a tortuous, sometimes deadly, one.

    MASSOB pioneer Director of Information, Mr. Uchenna Madu, described the journey as tedious and taxing.

    “The journey to realise the State of Biafra,” he said, “has not been an easy task because there is no way Nigeria will fold its hands and allow any group to disintegrate the country.

    “So in the last 15 years we have suffered terrible persecution, ranging from imprisonment, killings, stigmatisation, prosecution, infringement of our fundamental human rights but in the face of these we are still very determined to succeed. Today we have succeeded in reawakening the consciousness of Biafra in the minds of Ndigbo, both the ones at home and in the Diaspora”.

    Madu also spoke about some of the effects of the struggle on him, saying:

    “At a personal level I have suffered a lot but I am not deterred and this is also the same with other members. For instance, in 2005 I was arrested and detained for four years. I spent the years at Kuje, Keffi and Suleija prisons.

    “My parents died as a result of the shock they got due to my incarceration. When I was released in 2009 and got married in 2010 I was arrested a few days after my marriage and taken to Abakaliki Prisons from where I was transferred to Onitsha Prisons where I spent another 10 months.

    “The struggle for Biafra has cost me a lot. I have spent a great part of [my] youthful age in the struggle but I am not deterred because I know that the path to freedom is not a smooth ride; I was determined to embark on the journey and we will pursue it until we secure independence for Ndigbo. We have also suffered betrayal and prosecution from among our people.

    Recalling the massacre of members of the movement in 2003 in Okigwe, Imo State and in 2006 in Onitsha, Anambra State, Madu, who now leads a splinter MASSOB group, said:

    “Many of our young men and women were mercilessly massacred in Imo State in 2003 during a MASSOB rally in solidarity with the victims of terror attack in the United States of America in Okigwe Local Government Area. Security operatives ambushed [the unarmed] members and killed about 400 of them.

    “In 2006 in Anambra State, 700 members of MASSOB were killed and as I speak with you their remains are still in the morgue. We also have some of our members in different prisons. Some of them have spent over seven years. For instance, 18 of our members are currently in Awka Prison and five others are in Onitsha Prison but we are more determined than ever to achieve our freedom”.

    Recounting the achievements of the MASSOB in the last 15 years of the struggle of freedom, Madu said,

    “We have been able to realise the Biafra of the mind, which is the basis for the physical Biafra. Today the fear of identifying with Biafra has been erased from the minds of Ndigbo and they can proudly claim the Biafra identity.

    “We have also created global awareness for MASSOB and internationalised the struggle for Biafra and today, many professional and international bodies are showing interest in the struggle. Also in Nigeria today, especially with the current political situation, Ndigbo are looking forward to MASSOB as their last hope in the case of any unforeseen circumstance”.

    However Madu observed that “the struggle for Biafra has been challenged by some internal leadership crisis is affecting MASSOB. Some of the people have been brainwashed. Today some groups that came out of MASSOB are recording more achievements because of the deviation of our leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike. His attitude and romance with politicians is diminishing the struggle.

    “Today despite all our sacrifices in the struggle, other groups are taking the glory because our leader does not want intellectuals in the struggle, all he wants are those he can order around and they will not ask questions. Now it does not matter which group that actualizes Biafra because Biafra must be achieved even without MASSOB but as long as we are concerned when Biafra is finally actualized we will be remembered”.

    Today at Okwe, the administrative headquarters of the Movement, scores of disabled Biafra soldiers, who were begging for alms, have been resettled by Uwazuruike and epitaphs have been rected for those that were killed during the civil war.

    However today the MASSOB like every other separatist group has been engulfed in leadership crisis that has pitched some of the members against the founding leader, Uwazuruike.

  • Two brothers arraigned for MASSOB membership

    Two brothers arraigned for MASSOB membership

    Two brothers, Chinedu Mba, 32, and Sunday Mba, 50, were yesterday arraigned at a Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, for allegedly belonging to the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

    The accused are facing a two-count of conspiracy and belonging to an unlawful body.

    The prosecutor, Inspector A.O. Fadipe, told the court that the accused committed the offences on February 23 at 22, Ajijedudun Street, off Agunlejika Bus Stop, Ijeshatedo, Lagos.

    Fadipe said the accused had prohibited MASSOB membership identity cards and one pound of Biafran currency.

    He said the offences contravened sections 42 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 42(a) says that any person who is a member of an unlawful society is liable to imprisonment for three years.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Mrs. A.O. Soladoye admitted the accused to bail on N50, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

    She ordered that the sureties show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State government, reside in Lagos and show genuine means of livelihood.

    She adjourned the case till April 3 for mention.

  • MASSOB launches vehicle licences

    •Urges Ndigbo to support policy

    The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) at the weekend in Owerri, the Imo State capital, launched Biafran particulars and number plates for vehicles and motorcycles.

    It said the action was in line with its non-violent principle.

    In a statement by the MASSOB Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, the leader of the group, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who unveiled the number plates at a meeting with the zonal leaders of MASSOB, urged Ndigbo to embrace the advancement of the Biafran state.

    He directed MASSOB leaders to open markets and business places in their areas where only Biafran pounds would be accepted as a medium of exchange.

    Uwazuruike assured Ndigbo that in the new Biafran state, “there will be no power outage, corruption and crime.”

    Mocha said: “We have our coat of arms, flag, uniformed security men, who are serving as soldiers, policemen, among others.”

  • Judge’s absence stalls MASSOB’s case

    Judge’s absence stalls MASSOB’s case

    •22 members sent back to prison

    The Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday failed to hear the case involving 22 members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) following the absence of Justice M. L. Abubakar.

    However, on November 27 is the new date given to counsel to the MASSOB members, Emeka Meze.

    Though no reason was given for the judge’s absence, the 22 MASSOB members were returned to Awka and Onitsha prisons yesterday.

    The members of the movement were arrested by security agencies seven years ago and for alleged treasonable felony.

    After the court session yesterday, the Director of information of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, said keeping the members in awaiting trial all these years was enough punishment and discipline for a non-violent group.

    “In the spirit of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, we appeal to the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to intervene in the matter.”

    “We urge Governor Willie Obiano to extend the Ojukwu love to our brothers who have suffered unjustly in Awka and Onitsha prisons”

    “MASSOB lament the unhealthy condition of our brothers and sisters who have been abandoned for more than seven years, Governor Obiano should extend his rehabilitation and re-orientation of Igbo youth in Anambra state” Madu said

     

  • MASSOB seeks release of 22 detained members

    MASSOB seeks release of 22 detained members

    •Appeals to Jonathan, Obiano after seven years

    The movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), has split into two camps – the Chief Raph Uwazuruike group and the Progressives.

    The splinter group is seeking the release of 22 members arrested and detained since seven years in Awka and Onitsha.

    In a statement yesterday in Awka, the National Director of information in Progressive MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu said of the detained members, two were females, while one was a cripple.

    The statement said 15 of them needed serious medical attention, including the females and the cripple.

    The group appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, human Rights groups, Igbo leaders and civil society organisations to assist in their release.

    The statement said: “Several court adjournments, transfer of judges, who want to establish justice and systematic delay of their trial, has been the calculated method to frustrate their release at the Federal High Court, Awka and State High Court, Ogidi”

    “The names of the detained MASSOB members at Awka prison are Sebastine Amadi, Ikechukwu Chikwem, Peter Igbokwe, Uchenna Nicholas, uche Idika, Casmir Odokara, Eni Kalu, Chidiebere Ezekwem, Chima Asoh (cripple), Ojimba Anyanwu, Ndubuisi Okam”

    “Others are Emmanuel Orji, Micheal Okezie, Ikechukwu Aghari, Mmaduabuchi Asika, Chinwike Irondi, Chukwuma Kalu, while those at Onitsha prison are Innocent Orji, Chukwuebuka Ikenwa, Amah Onu, Okwudiri Basil (female) and Onyekachi Orji (female)”

    “Many of the detainees are bread winners of their families, many of their children are no longer in schools, their wives had gone back to their respective villages”

    “They have realised that they are being deceived by Uwazuruike and his false propagation of Biafra actualisation using Ojukwu’s name to gain personal wealth and enhancing his political ambition”

    “Our brothers have died, many are dislodged as a result of MASSOB activities and abandoned by Uwazuruike. They are rotting away because of Uwazuruike’s MASSOB”

    “The next arraignments of the 22 detained MASSOB members at the Federal High Court Awka will be on November 19, 27 and December 8, and at the Ogidi State High Court on December 17”. MASSOB said.

     

     

  • MASSOB honours Ojukwu

    The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has honoured the late Biafra leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, declaring November 6 as Ojukwu Day.

    MASSOB also directed that flags in public and corporate offices be flown at half-mast in all Biafran territories on that day.

    The movement’s acting director of Informat, Sunny Okereafor speaking to journalists in Aba,  said that the actions were meant to commemorate the third anniversary of the demise of the Igbo leader.

    Okereafor said that MASSOB has lined up series of events for the third anniversary celebration of late Ojukwu, the Eze Igbo Gburugburu, which he stated would be held at the Ojukwu Library at New Owerri, Imo State.

    He said MASSOB was doing these things to show the world that Ndigbo would never forget Ojukwu who he said used his father’s wealth to fight for the interest and in defence of the Igbo man.

    “We are doing these things to immortalise Ojukwu’s name because we see him as the Moses of Biafra who led his people out of the wilderness before he handed over power to Chief Ralph Uwazuruike who is the Joshua of our time.

    “In line with the high esteem which we hold Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu even in death, November 26 every year will be known as Ojukwu’s Day in remembrance of his contributions to the welfare of Ndigbo.”

    The MASSOB spokesman informed that the day would be declared public holidays immediately the state of Biafra was achieved and urged Ndigbo to keep faith with the Movement and attend the Owerri event enmasse.

    He hinted that highlights of this year’s Ojukwu Day celebration would include Igbo traditional dances, talk shops and cultural displays as well as key note address to be delivered by MASSOB leader, Chief Uwazuruike.

     

  • MASSOB denies crack in leadership structure

    MASSOB denies crack in leadership structure

    MEMBERS of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in Njaba Region in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State yesterday pledged unalloyed loyalty to the leadership of the embattled founder of the Movement, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.

    The Regional Administrator, Mr. Emmanuel Nwokeji in a statement made available to The Nation, described the purported leadership crack in MASSOB as “an unrealized plan by the enemies of MASSOB to contaminate the members that were loyal to our leader apparently to create justification for their pre-determined objective”.

    He posited that the plot, “was externally motivated by people who are never-dowells to ridicule our leader and subsequently harm him but they shall always fail. If they had succeeded, we the old members of MASSOB would have been new as the plan was targeted to change the history of the struggle. We must resist such move. It is only Uwazuruike our leader that has individual records of our members in mind so he knows all of us”. Condemning the actions of the Commanders, who had been engaged in leadership tussle with the MASSOB leader by flouting his orders, Nwokeji, likened their action to a “duty carried out by a dangerous manager”, adding that, “we must see to it always that any plan to oust or harm our leader in this struggle, is not in the interest of the members or the struggle itself”.

    He went on, “real MASSOB members will never follow the road to deceit because they know very well the danger to which this may lead. To follow Uwazuruike to the end, real MASSOB members have agreed albinitio that it should always be our song of hope. Outsiders may not understand. In exemption of Uwazuruike, no Igbo man that is living can rightly claim that he has suffered enough to be the leader of Ndigbo and MASSOB. “What the plotters of the

  • Release our members now, MASSOB tells soldiers

    The leadership of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in Abia State has called for the unconditional release of their members allegedly arrested by soldiers in Ohafia, even as it threatened that the Movement will not take it lightly should anything happen to their members on detaintion.

    The Acting Director of Information of MASSOB, Sunny Okereafor told reporters in Aba that 12 members of the group from Abia North were allegedly arrested while they were having their monthly meeting at Ohafia.

    According to him, the soldiers who came in four Hilux vans arrested 12 of them, even when no arm was found on any of them. They described the alleged arrest as provocative.

    “This is not the first time our members had been arrested by soldiers without any just cause. We have been pushed to the wall too far and may change our tactics if this persists,” he said.

    He, however, advised the Military to stop dissipating their energy on members of the Movement who he said had been non-violent in their struggle. They should instead channel their resources in fighting Boko Haram which he said had almost brought the country to its knees.

    “What are we talking about? Imagine soldiers fleeing from the Boko Haram onslaught that has caused so many problems for this country, only to turn around to arrest MASSOB members who neither carry arms nor violent in their struggle,” he said.

    Okereafor reeled off names of those arrested to include Evans Okoronkwo, Udonsi Kalu Ogbuka, Christopher Iroadiogu, Ikpo Innocent Kalu, Uka Ojukwu and John Eke.

    Others were Ferguson Okorie, Chika Uluocha, Marshall Apkan, John Kalu Obu, Ibem Nmecha and Godwin Nwabueze.

    Okereafor called for the immediate release of the members, failure of which he said, they would rise up in their own way in defence of their members.

    When contacted, the Public Relations of 14 Brigade, Capt. Umar confirmed that the MASSOB members were arrested by soldiers at Amaekpu Ohafia.

    Umar said the soldiers discovered some inciting materials while searching the MASSOB members who have since been handed over to the police.