Founder of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of
Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has blamed the suffering of
Nidigbo in Nigeria on the failure of their leaders to get fully into the
struggle for Igbo liberation even via a non-violent approach.
He explained that when he started the agitation for new Biafra
Republic, one of his major challenges was convincing Ndigbo in 1999 that
his quest for the new nation would never cause another civil war in the
country.
Uwazuruike recalled that the situation which led Ndigbo to fight the
1967-1970 war is still prevalent today, declaring that the Biafra
struggle was making much progress but added that little work is needed
to be done.
Uwazuruike, in a press statement signed by the Director of Information
for Biafra Independence Movement (BIM), Mazi Chris Mocha, stressed that
in 2002 the federal government thought it fit and converted the
dismissal of ex-Nigerian soldiers who served in the Biafran army to
retirement.
He also listed among others that it was on the heels of MASSOB-BIM’s
exposure of crime of injustice against Ndigbo that the government led
by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, that one of Igbo police
officers was made the Commissioner of Police; Mr. Ogbonna Onovo
appointed as Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and later on February
2007, Obasanjo made Amb. Aguiyi-Ironsi (rtd) the Minister of Defence
(Army) 3 months to the exit of his administration and 32 years after the
civil war.
Explaining further, Uwazuruike said it was the courageous approach of
MASSOB to the Biafran struggle for independence probably encouraged
the Justice Eze Ozobu-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo who made a bold representation
to the Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Commission on Human Rights where
Ohanaeze demanded among others an N8.7 trillion as compensation for the
many years of Injustice against the Igbos.
“For many years the Igbo nation had suffered internal colonialism,
indignity, exploitation, apartheid, exclusion and marginalization in
silence hoping and praying fervently to God that a Moses would emerge
one day to tell Nigerian Pharaoh’s in Abuja let my people go”
“When I started the struggle, one of my major challenges was trying
to convince Ndigbo that my quest for The New Biafra will not cause
another civil war, now I feel fulfilled”.
“He observed that Nigerians have been under Pharaoh’s-like leaders who
all agreed and glorified in the persecution of Ndigbo but regretted
that those who should have protected Ndigbo were rather collaborating
with our oppressors and are still masquerading themselves as Igbo
leaders
He said the Igbo problem has gone beyond marginalization MASSOB-BIM wants independence from Nigeria”.
Some of these Igbo elite Uwazuruike said helped to sabotage the Biafran
efforts during the civil war as a result of which Biafra was defeated
and the Igbo are now treated as slaves in Nigeria and they are
comfortable with the pitiable condition of Igbo.
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