The
Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra
(MASSOB) and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), will today
commemorate the declaration of the Republic of Biafra by the late Col.
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
MASSO
leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu said on Sunday that the day will be used
to honour living and fallen Biafran heroes for their services to
Igboland.
He,
however, decried President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s continued
detention of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu and the crackdown on pro-Biafra
agitators.
In
a statement issued in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Madu said: “It is a day
of honouring fallen and living Biafra heroes whose services to our
fatherland can never be forgotten. In celebration of nearly 50 years
anniversary of Biafra declaration, MASSOB, in the spirit of Biafranism,
will visit orphanages and the living disabled Biafran soldiers who
incidentally are housed at Okwe, MASSOB headquarters.
“Concerning
the one-year administration of President Buhari, which according to
many, is full of ups and downs, even to some, it is a blessing while
some view assessing it as too early but for us in MASSOB, it’s a
complete and total breakthrough for us…
“Nigeria
is a state where others are first class citizens but treat Igbo as
second class citizens; a state where others are born to rule but treat
Igbo as perpetual outcasts; a country where state policies deliberately
deny Igboland critical infrastructure. Nigeria has vowed to continue to
be a state where prejudice, tribalism, exclusion and hate are elevated
while nation building is ignored; a state where it seems the only logic
for unity is to share oil resources and not on the basis of consent,
mutual respect, fraternity and shared brotherhood,” Madu lamented.
Meanwhile,
IPOB has called on Biafrans across the globe, lovers of freedom and all
freedom fighters to come out en mass today to witness the peaceful
remembrance march of the Biafra fallen heroes and heroines who died
during the Biafra/Nigeria Civil War of 1967 to 1970 and those who died
during other peaceful protests and evangelism in Onitsha, Anambra
State, praying ground in Aba, Abia State, Igweocha, Rivers and Delta
States.
In
a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Emma
Powerful, IPOB said the event will also be used to honour, remind and
reassure Kanu that he has not been forgotten by his members.
Powerful
said: “IPOB family meeting worldwide invites all electronic and print
media companies and international media houses to come and witness our
30th of May, 2016 Remembrance Day, an event initiated by our leader,
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and religiously observed since 2014 at the
multi-million naira cenotaph that was destroyed by misguided criminal
elements claiming to be working for the actualisation of Biafra when in
actual sense, they were working against Biafra...
“We
are also calling on all the clans in Biafra, be you Izon (ljaw), Isoko,
Itsekiri, Efik, Ibibio, Idoma, Igede, Igala, Igboakiri (Igbanke), Igbos
and others to be part of the peaceful events marking this day. People
will gather at IPOB organised events all over the world to show their
respect, but all those in Biafraland should attend the gathering in
Anambra State,” he said.
Powerful
called on the Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, the Commissioner
of Police, Army and Navy commander to call their men who are parading
the state to order “because we are a non violent organisation that is
bent on the restoration of Biafra…”
There
was however, heavy presence of security agents in Onitsha on Sunday
and its environs as the police and military operatives stormed the areas
following reports that the Biafra agitators will mark the 50th year of
their quest for the actualisation of the Biafra Republic.
The residents confirmed the heavy presence of armed policemen and military personnel in Onitsha.
The
police spokesmen in Anambra, DSP Okechukwu Alih said the presence of
the security agents in Onitsha is a routine exercise aimed at sustaining
the current security measures in the city and other parts of the state.
Alih
said that the police were not aware of any anniversary or other
occasions in Onitsha or elsewhere in Anambra as the command did not
receive any official letter from any group or association informing it
of any occasion today.
Addressing
newsmen in Onitsha yesterday on the situation, the Nnewi South Regional
Administrator of MASSOB, Chief Anthony Nwodo said: “People are free to
go about their businesses without molestation from anybody today as we
mark the 50th anniversary of Biafra.”
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