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Tag: Uwazuruike

  • Uwazuruike to Southeast govs, senators: Stop politicising Kanu’s release

    Uwazuruike to Southeast govs, senators: Stop politicising Kanu’s release

    Leader of the Biafra Independence Movement, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, yesterday, in a viral video faulted the way governors and  senators from the Southeast region are politicising Kanu’s release.

    Uwazuruike who is the founder of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra(MASSOB) said that even  Bola Ahmed  Tinubu as Nigeria’s President does not have the absolute powers to order Kanu’s immediate release without seeking advice from the National Security Adviser (NSA).

    In a statement made available to journalists on yesterday, and signed by the group’s Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, Uwazuruike said,  ”It was not the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), who is a  government lawyer  or  the President  who is the Commander -in -Chief  of the Armed Forces is holding Kanu,  but the Security Chiefs.”

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    According to him, rather than meet the Service Chiefs including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, and Chief of  Defence  Staff (CDS), Uwazuruike faulted the approach being taken by the governors and senators from the zone.

    He advised the governors from the Southeast region to meet the NSA with a convincing security report on why Kanu needs to be freed, stressing that once this is done, the IPOB leader would certainly be released the next day, Uwazuruike counselled.

    He stated that rather than meeting the NSA, who usually advises the President, based on his available security report from Southeast, the governors and senators were busy hobnobbing in Abuja taking photographs and claiming to be working for his possible release without following the proper procedures.

  • Uwazuruike: Nigeria should be split into six regions to avoid more hardship

    Uwazuruike: Nigeria should be split into six regions to avoid more hardship

    • ’If I die no pastor should touch my body’

    Leader of the Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Biafra Independence Movement (BIM),

    Ralph Uwazuruike, has said for Nigerians to avoid more hardship, the country should be divided into six regions to allow the zones manage their resources and develop at their own pace.

    He spoke yesterday during the group’s monthly meeting at Ojukwu Memorial Library Auditorium, New Owerri, Imo State capital.

    He said: “Nigeria will always be difficult to govern the way it is, except it is split into six republics or regions according to the existing six geopolitical zones of the country for easy management.”

    Uwazuruike added: “Each of the regions should be allowed to develop at its own pace.

    “Nigerians are experiencing hardship and there is nothing in place to remedy the situation, except if each region is allowed to manage and develop in the area of comparative advantage.”

    Read Also: Land dispute: Uwazuruike vacates house for cleric 

    He berated clerics, accusing them of hobnobbing with governors and politicians.

    Uwazuruike said: “There are no men of God in Nigeria and Southeast in particular. They are not genuine; they are businessmen and politicians who are errand boys to the governors and politicians just for a mere peanut.”

    Uwazuruike, who approved and recognised Bishop Gregory Ashiegbu as the Archbishop of Biafra, directed MASSOB and BIM members not to allow any bishop or pastor to touch his body when he dies, except the newly-ordained Archbishop of Biafra, Ashiegbu.

    He said: “Don’t take my body to any church because I don’t belong to any of them. Don’t also allow any pastor, reverend father, bishop or archbishop to touch my body because they are politicians and businessmen and their hands are dirty

    “If I die, it is only my ordained Archbishop of Biafra land, Bishop Gregory Ashiegbu, who will take care of my body.”

  • Land dispute: Uwazuruike vacates house for cleric 

    Land dispute: Uwazuruike vacates house for cleric 

    Leader of Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has said he has vacated his property in Imo State, which has been a subject of dispute between him and Owerri Catholic Archdiocesan Bishop, Lucious Ugorji.

    Uwazuruike said he acquired the land in 2012, but was surprised that after many years, the archbishop surfaced to lay claim to the property.

    Archbishop Ugorji, however, claimed that the land belonged to the church before Uwazuruike built his house on it.

    Uwazuruike, in a statement yesterday by his media adviser, Chris Mocha, said he withdrew the case from the Court of Appeal and directed his security men to vacate the land for the sake of peace.

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    “From the bottom of my heart and for peace to prevail in the Southeast and Imo State in particular, take the land, you have won me,” Uwazuruike said.

    He, however, alleged that eight of his men arrested on the day officials of Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) came to demolish his house were yet to be released and called for their immediate release.

    “The members are being detained at an undisclosed police station in Owerri,” Uwazuruike alleged.

  • Uwazuruike, Archbishop at war over property in Imo

    Uwazuruike, Archbishop at war over property in Imo

    The leader of the Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has accused the Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Archbishop Lucious Iwejuru Ugorji, of using the instrument of state to forcibly take over his property at No 26, Housing Area G, New Owerri.

    He said the landed property on which he built a structure for his security men was reduced to rubble by officials of the Imo State Government agency, Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA).

    In an interview with The Nation correspondent in Owerri, Chief Uwazuruike said he acquired the land in 2012 with all necessary documents, adding that he was surprised that after many years, the Archbishop surfaced to lay claim to the property.

    He alleged that Governor Uzodinma connived with Archbishop Ugorji of the Catholic Diocese of Owerri to demolish and bomb his house to rubble, using explosive devices.

    Displaying the documents he used to purchase the land, Uwazuruike who pointed at the debris of the demolished building, said he had been living in the house since 2012, which is about 12 years ago.

    He said he was being singled out for punishment because of the non-violent methods he and his members had adopted in the pursuit of Biafran independence.

    Uwazuruike said: “As you can see, Governor Hope Uzodimma sent his officials of Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) to demolish my house.

    “You cannot kill all of us because we are struggling to actualise Biafra. I will not leave here to any other country. And I will not go into exile.”

    Accusing Senator Hope Uzodinma and Archbishop Ugorji of acting as agents to some disgruntled politicians in Abuja, who he said are working against the actualization of Biafra, Uwazuruike insisted he would continue to talk about Biafra and could never go into exile.

    He said he was handicapped to retaliate against the attacks by the officials sent by Archbishop Ugorji due to the peaceful approach he had already adopted to actualise Biafra.

    His words: “Archbishop Ugorji once called me and said he was interested in the land where I built my house since 2012, even before he was posted to Owerri Catholic diocese.

    “In 2016, some people came up to him and said that the land where he built his house belonged to them.

    “Last year, they went to the back and obtained an Oluwole judgment from a court without any service to us.

    “Through my lead Counsel, we went to the Appeal Court to appeal and to question the veracity of that judgment.

    “A few days ago, Governor Uzodimma sent Prof. Maurice Iwu, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC, to me, asking that I should discuss and dialogue with Archbishop Ugorji of Owerri Catholic Diocese.

    “I sent copies of the order of the Court of Appeal to Senator Hope Uzodimma and copied the Director of Security Services, DSS, and the Imo State Commissioner of Police.”

    He accused the Archbishop of lying and making false claims, adding that Chimezie Elekwachi is represented by an attorney, meaning that the person is not around.

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    This shows you that the arch Bishop is a liar. The attorney Amugo Ugorji is the archbishop’s younger brother. He is a front for the Bishop.

    Reacting, Archbishop Ugorji described Uwazuruike’s claims as false, saying the MASSOB leader has the habit of grabbing people’s land by sheer brigandage.

    The Archbishop, who spoke through his lawyer, Chris Ahumibe, said the land covering 805.067sq metres was acquired by Chigoziri Elekwachi by virtue of an irrevocable power of attorney dated 23rd January, 2007.

    He said: “Some time in 2015, some men numbering over 15 broke into the property and commenced digging of foundation on the land.

    “The men became violent when confronted by Chigoziri Elekwachi’s in-law, Chief Amugo Ugorji, who was the caretaker to the property, and they claimed they were MASSOB members working on Biafraland.

    “The Archbishop of Owerri Diocese of the Catholic Church either through his office or as a person is not on any way concerned and has no interest in the land in dispute,” he said.

    He also said Governor Uzodimma had no interest in the land in dispute as alleged by Uwazuruike.

     He said Elekwachi took possession of his property after a high court judgment had been delivered in his favour.

     According to him, “branding of the judgment of a High Court of justice as Jankara and Oluwole is most uncharitable, undeserving and reckless of a person who claims to be a lawyer.”

  • Military dissociates self from raid on Uwazuruike

    Military dissociates self from raid on Uwazuruike

    Leader of Biafra Independence Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, yesterday alleged that uniformed men suspected to be soldiers stormed his Okwe country home in Onuimo Local Government of Imo State and kidnapped four of his security guards.

    A statement quoted Uwazuruike as saying that the abduction occurred on Sunday night.

    “Some Nigerian soldiers stormed my Okwe country home and abducted four of my security details guarding MASSOB Freedom House in Onuimo Local Government.

    “No provocation led to the abduction and no explanation was offered by the soldiers,” Uwazuruike said in a statement signed on his behalf by the Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, yesterday.

    Uwazuruike, who is also the founder of Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), urged the Commander of 32 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, near Owerri, to ensure release of his security men.

    He said members of BIM-MASSOB had never been indicted or found wanton by security reports, “because of the peaceful approach to our agitation for Biafra.”

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    Uwazuruike added: “The soldiers arrived at Freedom House in a Navy blue Sienna car sighted the MASSOB security men in front of the gate to the MASSOB Freedom House. The five soldiers walked straight to my security men and started flogging them without any explanation or provocation.

    “The soldiers, after beating my members, blindfolded them with clothes and whisked them away to an unknown destination.”

    The BIM leader, who demanded their immediate release or be handed over to any police station nearest to them, gave their names as Comrades. Enoch Chukwuemeka, Joseph Ekpeyong, Sunday Osulor and Goodluck Chukwuemeka.

    Contacted, Army spokesman Joseph Akubo said soldiers don’t abduct, but only arrest people who have questions to answer.

    He, however, said other sister security agencies such as Navy and Air Force wear Army uniform.

    Said he: “You should also know that Navy and Air Force wear the same uniform like that of the Army. I will, however, verify and get back to you later.”

  • Getting Igbo presidency is by negotiation – MASSOB Leader Uwazuruike

    Getting Igbo presidency is by negotiation – MASSOB Leader Uwazuruike

    • Says Peter Obi thinks it’s by motivational speech

    The leader and founder of Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra(MASSOB),  Chief Ralph Uwazuruike  has come down heavily on Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the February 25, 2023 election, Peter Obi saying he has failed to apply wisdom in his quest to become the president of Nigeria.

    Uwazuruike said yesterday  that Peter Obi thought that  to become the president of Nigeria was through motivational speeches and by making noise on social media.

    He said that the Labour Party candidate had forgotten how he became the governor of Anambra State to know that it could not have been by motivational speech.

    “You don’t become the president through social media. Was that how he became the governor for eight years?

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    They thought to become the president is by fight and war and making  noise on social media. I said no problem, let me see how you can be president of Nigeria. Even when he completed the election and Peter Obi was declared number three I remained silent because I knew he would go to court and I know it will get to the Supreme Court. Now that the Supreme Court had spoken, I want to ask him how far? Has he become the president? I know what I have told them that no Igboman will be president by force or fight. It must be by negotiation,” he said.

    He said further: “Peter Obi who I call Okute(Stone) knows it is not done that way and he has forgotten that without Ojukwu he couldn’t have become the governor of Anambra State. Without Peter, Willie Obiano would not have become the governor and without Obiano today Prof Soludo would not have become governor. It is simply African politics. So, it baffles me how Peter Obi just came out and wants to become the president and I said let me see how that can materialise.

     “That is not the way. If you ask Peter how he became the governor he will tell you it is court but it went beyond that. It is not true. It was a concession given to Ojukwu in 2003. Peter Obi did not know about it. He has limited knowledge, he believes the court gave him the verdict.

  • Uwazuruike berates IPOB’s sit-at-home order

    Uwazuruike berates IPOB’s sit-at-home order

    •40 arrested

    Leader of the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) Chief Ralph Uwazuruike has dissociated his movement from the May 30 sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
    IPOB declared the sit-at-home in remembrance of those who died in the 1967-1970 civil war.
    But Uwazuruike, in an interview yesterday, described the order as cowardly, saying it was a way of coercing the people against their will.
    He insisted that the order does not show strength and popularity, and insisted that their 18th anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Biafra, which began yesterday, has nothing to do with other agitators who have decided to use the sit-at-home order to confuse and deceive people.
    Leader of the group in Enugu, John Nnamani said 20 members were arrested during yesterday’s march. He described their arrest as ‘unfortunate’, saying their colleagues in Anambra State were protected by the same police.
    But police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said 40 members were arrested. He added that they will be charged for conducts likely to cause breach of peace.

  • Herdsmen attack: Uwazuruike calls for calm

    Founder of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign States of Biafra (MASSOB) Ralph Uwazuruike has warned against reprisal attacks against herdsmen, who ambushed women and children in Umunze, Anambra State.

    The separatist leader was reacting to the  raping of women in Umunze ,Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Uwazuruike who spoke through his Director of Information, Sunday Okerafor, in Owerri, maintained that the  herdsmen were only trying to cause anarchy and disaffection in the Southeast.

    He added that the attacks were deliberate provocation and affront against MASSOB members, but asserted that the group will not resort to violence irrespective of the provocation.

  • Factional MASSOB ‘pardons’ Uwazuruike

    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

    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.”