The Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB) will, May 22, hold a peaceful rally to celebrate 17 years of hoisting the Biafra flag in Igboland.
The Enugu North zonal leader, Chief James Omeke, addressed reporters on behalf of the movement’s leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.
He said: “The rally is a one-week event which will begin on May 22 and end with a novelty match on May 30.
“It is the 17th year anniversary of the hoisting of the Biafra flag in Aba and it is the day we have mapped out to thank God and celebrate the renewed struggle for our freedom.
“It is a day we want to celebrate and tell the world that all sons and daughters of Ndigbo want total freedom.”
Members from the 17 councils will converge on the state capital to tell the world that Biafra Republic has come to stay, Omeke added.
Tag: MASSOB
-
MASSOB to mark 17 years of hoisting flag
-
MASSOB to celebrate 17 years of foisting flag
Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike faction said it would hold a peaceful rally in Enugu State on May 22.
The Enugu North zonal leader of the group, Chief James Omeke told reporters in Enugu Monday on behalf of Uwazuruike said the rally was in commemoration of the hoisting of Biafra’s flag 17 years ago in Igboland by Uwazuruike.
“The peaceful rally is a one week event that will kick off on May 22nd; it is the 17th year anniversary of the hoisting of Biafra flag in Aba. It is the day we have mapped out to thank God and celebrate the renewed struggled for our freedom”, he said.
“It is a day we want to celebrate and tell the entire world that all sons and daughters of Ndigbo want total freedom,” he said.
Omeke stated that MASSOB from all the 17 Local Government Areas of the state would converge on the state capital and tell the world that Biafra Republic has come to stay while it maintained non-violence in all its activities geared towards their freedom.
“I want to tell Nigerian government that MASSOB will continue to be peaceful in all its activities but at the same time warn those who may want to use our peaceful rally to cause breakdown of peace and order in the state to desist from such actions”, he said.
Omeke further stated that the one-week event would be wrapped up with a novelty match on May 30.
-
Biafra Day: MASSOB-BIM to hold peaceful rally on May 22
The factional leadership of the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) under the command of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike says the group in conjunction with Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) would be holding a peaceful rally in Southeast and other parts of the country on May 22.
Okporie U. Nkama, Abia South MASSOB-BIM (Biafra Independent Movement) zonal leader who spoke to newsmen in Aba Friday on behalf of their leader, Chief Uwazuruike said that the essence of the rally which would have in attendance its members from the 17 local government areas of the state was to commemorate 2017 “Biafra Day”, 17 years after its leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike hoisted Biafra flag to signal the group’s loss of interest to be part of Nigeria again.
Nkama, though couldn’t disclose where the group would be converging said that they would march round major streets of Aba including Azikiwe road, Asa road, Okigwe road, Aba-Owerri Expressway amongst other roads and streets they intend to cover.
The Abia South leader of MASSOB-BIM further stated that the event would be wrapped up with a novelty match on May 30 in Aba warned that they would not fold their arms to watch unscrupulous elements hijack the exercise to cause breach of peace in Aba and its environs, stressing that the peaceful and non-violent disposition of the group in its approach to the struggle have made them to remain focused and undaunted.
On the planned May 30 sit-at-home protest by the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nkama urged the residents of Aba and the state in general to disregard such information but to go about their lawful business activities and to find time to come and watch the inter-state novelty match that would be played at a venue that would soon be announced.
“MASSOB-BIM wants to celebrate Biafra on May 22. It is our day, a day that Uwazuruike, our leader hoisted Biafran flag on May 22, 2000 and we want to celebrate it. It is the day we have mapped out every year to thank God for keeping us alive in the last 17 years when the renewed struggled for the emancipation of Biafra was started by our leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.
It is important that we celebrate this day because it provides avenue for us remember the efforts of the founding fathers of Biafra and also to reawaken our spirit and to instill in us the consciousness about the actualization of a sovereign state of Biafra which they (our founding fathers) all fought and died for.
“It is a day of reminding ourselves that like the people of Israelites who were being persecuted by Pharaoh in Egypt, that we will one day leave Egypt for that promise land which flows with milk and honey. Biafrans want to be free from Nigeria where there is so much pain and hardship like we are witnessing today. It is a day of reminding ourselves on the need for us to leave Nigeria.
“It is going to be a peaceful one because MASSOB is a non-violent organization. After the Aba rally, our members will go back to their regions and replicate same with their zonal leaders from other zones.”
Speaking further, Nkama said that no amount of intimidation by the federal government of Nigeria or its agents would make them bow to the pressure of abandoning their struggle, stressing that “we will get what we want in a peaceful way.”
He further pledged their loyalty to Ralph Uwazuruike. Other members of the public who doesn’t carry arms are free to join us during the rally but if you bear arms, we will not allow you to join the rally because the world know us as a non-violent group and we want to maintain it.
-
MASSOB urges Southeast Governors to ensure Kanu, others release
The Leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has urged governors of the Southeastern states to back their words with action.
Factional leader of the pro-Biafra agitation group, Comrade Uchenna Madu in a press release issued to the media on Monday saluted Governors of the Southeast who met in Enugu at the weekend for unanimously agreeing to seek ways of ensuring the release of detained Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Director of Radio Biafra, including other pro Biafra agitators languishing in different Nigeria prisons.
According to Madu, the governors should not only make public statement, but must march their words, assurances and decisions with actions.
He said that Ndigbo are tired of vain promises and assurances which ultimately bring vain and meaningless glories.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, three others at Kuje prison and twenty one MASSOB members at Onitsha / Awka prisons are being held because of Biafra and freedom of our people, they are not criminals but freedom fighters who are loved by the people of Biafra. Igbo political leaders mostly the governors should know that if Nnamdi Kanu is the son or younger brother of Ike Ekweremadu or Nnia Nwodo, he will not spend a month in detention.
“Majority of Igbo National Assembly members are political cowards and boot-lickers, we advice the Igbo governors to distinguish themselves from the lukewarm and unproductive National Assembly Members. MASSOB and other pro Biafra groups represent the genuine interest of the Ndigbo which can never be denied.
“If Yoruba leaders can eloquently support and collaborate with Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Hausa Fulani (Arewa) leaders openly romances with Islamic fundamentals including Book Haram Terrorist and Armed Fulani Herdsmen for the goodness of their region and people, why is Igbo leaders afraid to support or collaborate with Biafra agitating groups for the betterment of Igbo land and her people? ”
-
Governors to ‘tackle’ IPOB, MASSOB, Nnamdi Kanu
Southeast governors yesterday rose from a meeting in Enugu to announce their decision to “tackle” the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB ) and the detention of Nnamdi Kanu.
They also listed ecological problems of the zone, various abandoned dams, power and security as issues to be tackled.
Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), who addressed reporters after the meeting, said the “Ebonyi State Government House was not on fire”.
His words: “Today, we discussed a number of issues, but let’s first announce to you that our secretariat here in Enugu is now fully functional and so if you have to contact the Southeast Governors Forum you can do so through our secretariat.
“Fortunately, it is also in the Enugu State Government House.
“On the issue of IPOB, MASSOB, Kanu’s detention, ecological problems, various dams that have been abandoned, power, security, and other concerns of our people, the Southeast governors have agreed to meet with the various and appropriate authorities to address these problems.
“We are very committed to this and actions have started on these issues.
“Southeast governors also agreed to meet with stakeholders to address issues that are of interest to our people.
“We approved two representatives each and we have mandated them to meet and fashion out roadmap towards our economic integration.
“This we will do in the coming weeks so they will present a road map for our economic indices and development in our next meeting.
“Let me digress a little to saythere was no fire at the Ebonyi State Government House. That’s not correct.
“What happened was that the office of the chief of staff witnessed over usage of the air conditioner and it had a little problem.“
-
Kanu: MASSOB leader chides governors, lawmakers
Factional leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) Uchenna Madu has chided Southeast governors and lawmakers for not visiting the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Madu, in an interview in Aba, Abia State, at the weekend, said it was regrettable that since Kanu’s detention and trial, no lawmaker, governor or traditional ruler has visited him in Kuje Prison.
According to the MASSOB leader, the stakeholders’ inability to visit Kanu was because they were afraid of being “sidelined”.
“They have not visited him because some of them are cowards and afraid of being sidelined.
“If truly Igbo blood is flowing in them, they are to visit Kanu.
“The Southeast traditional rulers’ council should go and see Nnamdi Kanu. Their visit will show the world that our people are in solidarity with him.”
Commending “Nzuko Umunna” members, led by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for visiting Kanu, Madu urged the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led by Nnia Nwodo, to visit the Kuje Prisons immediately.
He said: “I’ m expecting the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President to lead a delegation to visit Kanu because Kanu is bigger than Ohanaeze.
“He is the most visible symbol of the Biafra struggle
“He is suffering for our people and our people should not abandon him at this moment.”
Speaking on the relocation of MASSOB’s administrative headquarters, Madu said the decision was a unanimous agreement by stakeholders.
He added that the choice of Enugu was also for administrative convenience and the centrality of the new location, which he said is the capital of Biafra.
“The administration of MASSOB or Biafra shouldn’t be in somebody’s house or village, so we decided to leave that place and allow Ralph Uwazuruike to return to his father’s compound.
“Yes, we have lifted the ban and have forgiven him in the spirit of Biafra. We can’t continue to keep grudges. We have handed his matter over to the ancestors to handle him. We can’t continue to play god.”
-
Factional MASSOB ‘pardons’ Uwazuruike
•Relocates headquarters to Enugu
The Uchenna Madu-led faction of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday said it had “forgiven” the embattled founder, Ralph Uwazuruike.
Uwazuruike was suspended and evicted from the MASSOB headquarters, three years ago.
The faction said it relocated its operational headquarters from Okwe in Okigwe Local Government of Imo State to Enugu State.
In a statement by its National Director of Information, Samuel Edeson, the group said it closed all existing camps and the headquarters, adding that it will not condone the use of its name to perpetrate crime.
The statement said: “In the spirit of Biafran brotherhood, MASSOB has forgiven Ralph Uwazuruike (former MASSOB leader), who ran away from Okwe after his expulsion.
“He is urged to return to his family house, which incidentally houses MASSOB headquarters.
“We consider Uwazuruike’s three years exile as enough punishment and he is hereby forgiven and can now return to his father’s house.
“After our national officers meeting, it was resolved that all camps, including the headquarters, be closed because some disgruntled persons are using the name to perpetrate crimes.
“We refuse to allow the platform of reformed MASSOB under the leadership of Comrade Uchenna Madu to be used for breeding anti-social vices that can cause breakdown of law and order.
“That MASSOB being a non-violent organisation has redeemed its lost public confidence.
“That MASSOB under the leadership of Comrade Uchenna Madu will continue to operate non-violently from our new descent office and not camps with respect and regards to other genuine pro- Biafra groups.
“We know that many people will not be happy that MASSOB is closing the Okwe headquarters.
“It is part of our internal reorganisation for strategic growth and positive functions.
“MASSOB wishes to inform the Imo State government, security agents and Okwe community that any group of persons or individual camped or found inside the former MASSOB Freedom House, Okwe are criminals.”
-
MASSOB won’t support arms struggle, says Uwazuruike
Founder of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has distanced his group from the threat by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to resort to arms struggle.
IPOB, in a recent report, threatened to take up arms, if “Nigeria security agents do not retrace their steps from further killing and molestation of Igbo youths”.
Uwazuruike, who spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital, through MASSOB Leader Solomon Oduchukwu, noted that the threat by IPOB was a confirmation of his alarm about the group’s disposition to violence.
Describing IPOB as a radical movement, Uwazuruike urged Igbo youths to reject any by plan to cause another war in the country.
He said: “Ndigbo cannot afford to go into another war. MASSOB strongly exonerates itself from the threat of IPOB; they have always incited violence and this is against the principles of MASSOB. Their threat can only lead to the killing of innocent youths in Igbo land and we will never allow another bloodshed.
“When you throw stones and other dangerous weapons at security agents, what do you expect? We would never come down to their level. MASSOB can never be compared to IPOB. We have veritable structures and non-violent approaches. We would celebrate MASSOB Day on May 22; Biafra Day on May 30 and MASSOB Anniversary on September 13. What has IPOB got to show? Nothing but violence.”
Also, the MASSOB leader welcomed the new leadership of Ohanaeze.
He urged the new executives to project the interest of Ndigbo, unite the Southsouth and the Southeast.
Uwazuruike said: “We would support the new leaders, if they have the interest of Ndigbo at heart; if they support the actualisation of Biafra. They are welcome.” -
Buhari, MASSOB congratulate Nwodo as Ohanaeze leader
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday congratulated Chief John Nwodo on his election as the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation.
The President noted that Nwodo was eminently qualified for the job because of his long years of distinguished service to the nation.
He said the former Information Minister had also been Minister of Civil Aviation in the Second Republic under President Shehu Shagari and Minister of Information and Culture in the administration of General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
President Buhari said as Nwodo prepared to settle down with his team to implement his vision for Ohaneze Ndigbo, he urged the Ndigbo and other ethnic nationalities to support the new leadership to fulfil its mandate in these challenging times.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said President Buhari looked forward to working with the new leadership.
He assured Ohaneze Ndigbo that his administration would continue to be a partner-in-progress in implementing suggestions, measures and programmes to advance the unity, development and prosperity of Nigeria.
The President wished the Chief Nwodo-led Ohaneze Ndigbo a peaceful and prosperous tenure.
Also, the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) congratulated Nwodo and Uche Okwukwu who was elected the Secretary General.
In a statement by its leader, Uchenna Madu, the group urged the new leadership not to run the organisation as a private business.
The statement said: “…Nwodo and Okwukwu should know that piloting the affairs of Ndigbo on the platform of Ohaneze Ndigbo is strictly based on ‘Igboism’, which means Igbo political, economic, social, academic, religious interest first before Nigeria and personal interest.
“With the current political development in Nigeria and Igbo political target in 2019, the Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership is no longer private businesses, as usual.”
Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday urged the new leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to strengthen Igbo unity with its instrument of office.
The governor, who hailed Nwodo’s victory, noted that the apex body had the responsibility to ensure that Ndigbo got their due in “corporate Nigeria”.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor assured the new leadership of the cooperation of Southeast governors.
The statement reads: “The unity of Ndigbo, including their leaders, should be strengthened now, more than ever before, to ensure that Ndigbo get their due in a corporate Nigeria.”
Okorocha congratulated Nwodo on his election victory as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
The governor said delegates to the election and Ndigbo made a wise choice.
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday hailed the election of Nwodo as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
He said: “I congratulate Chief Nnia Nwodo and his team on their victory. I have confidence in their ability to further reposition the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation and relaunch Ndigbo to a higher reckoning in the country, while also working with other parts of the nation for the overall development of Nigeria.
“I expect them to work with the Igbo civil society, the Diaspora community, town unions, governments, political elites, and other parts of the country to bring out the best of the famed Igbo resourcefulness, intellect, and collectivism for the social, economic, and political transformation of Igbo Land and Nigeria.”
Also, a group ofý Igbo leaders, under the aegis of Ohanaeze Caretaker Committee, has filed a suit against the election which produced the Dr Nnia Nwodo-led new national executive.
Nwodo and his team are to hold office for four years.
But Ohanaeze Caretaker Committee, led by Chief Ralph Obioha, said the election, which was organised by the Chief Enwo Gary Igariwey-led executive on Tuesday, was a nullity.
The committee argued that the Igariwey-led executive lacked the constitutional powers to convoke an election since its tenure elapsed over a year ago.
It said the “purported’ election was illegal.
In an earlier suit filed at the Enugu High Court on December 21 against the Igariwey-led executive, the committee asked the court to stop the conduct of any election into the body.
The court granted the group’s request on December ý22 with the leave of service by substituted means.
The group averred that members of the Igariwey-led executive were card-carrying members of political parties, contrary to the constitution of Ohanaeze.
It added that they should not be allowed to conduct the election.
When the matter came up yesterday for hearing, lawyer to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief James Ikeyi (SAN), asked for adjournment to enable him prepare his defence.
Ikeyi said the 42 days window expected to file their reactions had not lapsed.
Justice A. O. Onovo adjourned the matter till March 1 for hearing.
-
MASSOB blasts Sultan for comment on Igbo
The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday berated the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, for allegedly making uncomplimentary remarks against Ndigbo at an event in Enugu State on Tuesday.
A statement in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, by MASSOB Leader Uchenna Madu described the Islamic leader’s comments as a reflection of Hausa-Fulani’s hatred, hypocrisy and wicked minds against the people of Biafra in the country.
The statement reads: “MASSOB blasts the Sultan of Sokoto for his unguided and insensitive address at Nsukka yesterday (Tuesday) when he visited.
“This …assertion of the Islamic leader shows and proved the high-level hatred, hypocrisy and wicked mind of Hausa-Fulani Islamic fundamentalist in Nigeria against the people of Biafra.
“The Islamic leader in Nigeria openly admitted that Ndigbo were always killed and massacred without provocation in Nigeria because of our industriousness and unique abilities to reside every nook and cranny of Nigeria while doing businesses.
“The Sultan also defended his Fulani herdsmen kinsmen… He claimed that the violent Fulani herdsmen are criminals.
“Since he is defending his kinsmen on their systematic killings of our people, what measure has he taken as a true Nigerian religious leader to curb or stop the excessiveness of his Fulani herdsmen?
“Again, as a very closer factor of Nigeria government, what has the Sultan done to attract the consciousness of Federal Government to the plight of Igbo Biafrans killed by followers of Islam?
“MASSOB views his coming to Nsukka to taunt Ndigbo but very soon, our Chi (God), Chukwu Okike Abiama, will expose the evils of our enemies…”