Barely 16
days to the May 30 event to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1967 declaration
of the Republic of Biafra, Igbo self-determination groups have vowed that
nothing except God can stop the celebration of the anniversary.
Acting in
one accord, the groups said they have perfected plans for a smooth celebration
that would prevent the wasting of Biafran blood by trigger-happy Nigerian
security agencies on Biafra Day.
Investigations
by Sunday Sun showed that various groups have thrown their weight behind the
IPOB initiative and assured that the sit-at-home order would be observed fully
in Biafra land.
Speaking to
Sunday Sun on the issue, IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma
Powerful, said the group was aware of the plot of governments both at the
federal and state levels to stop the event.
He said, “We
are aware that the saboteurs in and outside Biafraland, even those who claimed
to be fighting for Biafra freedom, the federal and state governments in the
East and security agencies are planning to stop the remembrance of our heroes
and heroines who died for our people to live today in Nigeria and to forestall
the sit-at-home order issued by our supreme leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu with IPOB
leadership worldwide.
“We want to
use the Biafra Day celebration to prove to the entire world that we are ready
for the referendum that will soon come for our people to decide whether they
want to remain in Nigeria or not. Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of
Biafra must obey the sit-at-home order issued by our supreme leader, Mazi
Nnamdi Kanu, no matter the threat from the Nigerian government and her security
agencies. We are aware that the saboteurs, evil men and women, who want to
deceive the people not to observe the sit-at-home order on that particular day
will fail.
“We are not
deterred by any threat from any corner no matter the arsenal the security
operatives might come with to harass people on that day. They will try but they
cannot stop it because they don’t have the wherewithal to stop it because IPOB
is rooted in every community and state in Biafraland and they cannot force
people to come out on that particular day. We know their strategies and IPOB
has its own strategies to make the sit-at-home order succeed.
“Therefore,
all markets, transport companies, schools, banks, companies, civil servants,
petrol stations, okada/tricycle unions, park management, artisans, National
Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Drivers Welfare in Biafraland, must
shut down on that particular day in honour and remembrance of our fallen heroes
and heroines.
“This is not
the first time in history IPOB indulged in this type of event with sit-at-home
order and our people have always complied with their hearts in support of
Biafra independence being championed by our leader.
“We did the
Heroes Day Celebration in Enugu in the year 2014, did it at Aba in 2015
although IPOB did not call for sit-at-home and we did the heroes remembrance
day at Nkpor last year where the Nigerian security agencies especially the Army
committed the highest crime against humanity. Few months later, IPOB called for
sit-at-home on 23rd September, 2016 without much publicity unlike this year’s
own that there is much publicity for this epoch event, people complied.”
Corroborating
him, the Leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of
Biafra (MASSOB), Comrade Uchenna Madu said the event is beyond the government’s
power to stop, insisting that it would be a golden and superlative celebration.
His words:
“The golden jubilee celebration of Biafra declaration anniversary will be
golden and superlative. It will be a moment of sober reflection among the
Biafra agitators. The commemoration of the anniversary will bring more unifying
forces of non-violence for speedy actualization and restoration of Biafra.
Different activities of all pro-Biafra groups that will recharge the
consciousness of Biafra are all welcomed.
“We are
aware that Nigerian security agents are not comfortable with the coming
anniversary. MASSOB is also aware that security agents will exhibit their
jittery state and fears, as the
overzealous, trigger-happy ones will like to operate in a cowardly manner
against non-violent Biafra agitators. The threat and presence of Nigerian
security agents will not deter us from exercising our fundamental right.
“We the
people of Biafra will never relent in promoting, projecting and upholding all
the legacies of General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the supreme leader and
Commander of the Biafra Nation. Whatever measure or approach of security agents
against the celebration of Biafra declaration anniversary day can never stop us
from observing the independence declaration of Biafra by Dim Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu.
“We’re not
seeing the Federal government stopping or challenging the celebration of the
50th anniversary of Biafra declaration. The Federal government cannot stop what
they didn’t establish or institute. Their duty is to watch and observe the
sympathetic reactions of the international community towards restoration of
Biafra. No military or spiritual powers can stop the collective will of the
people.”
Asked if
they would be able to resist government forces, Powerful said: “IPOB under the
leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a non-violent organization but remember, I
said we know their plans, from one week before the event they will begin to
apply their strategy, but IPOB will do everything within its reach to make sure
that the sit-at-home order scheduled to hold on May 30 is successful. The only
thing we request from our people is for them to heed the clarion call from our
leader and IPOB worldwide to stay indoors and leave other things for IPOB
members.
“We advise
everybody to go to market before that particular day and stock up food items,
don’t come out openly because the security agencies want to use it as an excuse
to begin to kill our people again as they did last year at Nkpor. That day
there will be no movement of any kind, markets, transport company of any sorts,
banks, parents must withdraw their children from schools that day to avoid
soldiers’ attack.
“IPOB is
working tirelessly now to ensure that this sit-at-home order is complied with
completely; everywhere must be shut down by our people because they know in
this contraption called Nigeria nothing is working, the poor become poorer
while the rich become richer.”
He said that
the focus of the Biafra Day is to remember those who died during the genocidal
war against Igbo people between 1967 and 1970, and observe the day at home with
prayers. Immediately it is noon (midday), every family in Biafraland must write
down the names of those who died in their families and use it as point of
prayer for 2 minutes immediately it is noon on that day.
He stressed
that Igbo people everywhere should and honour Bruce Mayrock, a Jewish American
who set himself ablaze before the United Nations office in New York, USA, to
protest the killing and starvation of Igbo during the war.
Speaking on
why Ndigbo are solidly behind Kanu, the founder of Igbo Youth Movement (IYM)
and Secretary, Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA), Evangelist Elliot
Ugochukwu-Uko said, “Our reasons are obvious. Our people are behind him simply
because, he has proven to be devoted, dedicated and committed to freeing our
people from the prison called Nigeria. He has also proven that he will
willingly make painful sacrifices for the sake of our people.
“You see,
Nnamdi Kanu is not the problem of Nigeria, rather the problems of Nigeria threw
up Nnamdi Kanu. He and his followers are merely reacting to the wickedness of
the system. On the 29th of July, 1966, 51 years ago, young soldiers in their
20s killed Ironsi and Fajuyi in Ibadan and seized central power, led Nigeria
through a very bloody civil war, carved Nigeria along their whims, created
states and local governments, designed the Nigerian Constitution according to
their caprices and have seized Nigeria by the jugular ever since.
He explained
further: “They left sorrow, tears and blood, established the Nigerian corrupt
political culture and they are still insisting on dictating our future whether
we like it or not. One of them is our head of state today, three of them met in
Minna two weeks ago, all in their bid to stamp their feet on our destiny as a
people.
“It does not
matter to them that the Nigeria they designed is not working, that 20 states
cannot pay salaries, that 90 per cent of the citizens want Nigeria returned to
regional arrangement, that more than half of our population have completely
lost faith in Nigeria, and that about one quarter of the population are
completely bent on seceding out of Nigeria. These soldiers of fortune and their
civilian accomplices have continued to resist every plea to restructure Nigeria
back to the regional autonomy.
“Every
effort, since Aburi, Ghana 50 years ago, Abacha’s conference 22 years ago,
Obasanjo’s conference 12 years ago and Jonathan’s confab three years ago, have
been frustrated, resisted by these little gods, who believe they own Nigeria.
Kanu and his followers only represent the voice of the masses who are simply
saying, ‘We can’t take it anymore.’
“Kanu’s
activism positively resonates with millions of our people. So it is the
injustice initiated and condoned by some people that inspired Kanu to embark on
a project to free his people from servitude. So Kanu is not the problem, but
those who believe they are born to rule and dominate others perpetually.”
Speaking in
the same vein, Ugochukwu-Uko, who is also the Deputy Secretary, Igbo Leaders of
Thought (ILT) said, “I assure you that our people are 100 per cent behind
Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB. They have called on our people to stay at home on that
day and meditate on the blood of our brethren unnecessarily shed in our recent
history. I will assure you that in spite of the attempt by enemies of the
people to sabotage the stay at home order, I believe our people will comply
because they know that Kanu and IPOB mean well for our unborn children.”
Declaring
his support for the IPOB order, a commercial motorcyclist in Awka, Anambra
State, Mr. Ejike Tomchukwu, said the sit-at-home order is as good as having
been carried out, stating that members of his union have decided to obey it to
the letter.
He said,
“Every reasonable man and woman in Biafra land knows it is a time to test our
unity and our ability to challenge injustice in Nigeria and we must obey it. If
the government wants, let them bring out the entire weapons in Nigeria here
they will not force us out of our homes. They will be disappointed because they
will not see anybody on the road to kill, except they will be going to people’s
homes to kill them, which I will not be surprised if it happens.”
A
businessman whose business office is located at the Arroma Junction area of
Awka who pleaded anonymity said, “Though it will be a loss of business for me,
but it is a worthy call that all of us Biafrans no matter were you reside must
obey. Let us show them that we are very important in this nation.”
A commercial
bus driver, Mr. Okey Nwokolo, declared his full support for the exercise in
order to show the determination of Biafrans over the matter of Biafra
independence, saying that the exercise would shake the entire world, which will
hasten the restoration of Biafra’s statehood.
“We have to
honour those who lost their lives for us to live. I will not support protest or
rally but I support the sit-at-home because nobody will die or be killed by
security agents again. It is a sacrifice we have to pay in our quest to be
independent and on our own, we cannot get it on a platter of gold, so we have
to work for it.
“I know it
will not be easy for everybody to remain at home for the whole day, but we have
to endure it for that day. Since we are aware of it, we should work hard to ensure
that we keep what we will eat for that day. So, I urge all Biafrans wherever
you are to observe the day and comply fully, we are fighting for our future
because we don’t belong to this Nigeria,” Nwokolo said.
A legal
practitioner, Mr. Chibueze Ibenwa, condemned the sit-at-home order, describing
it as illegal. He said the economy of the entire Southeast zone would be
brought to a halt and billions of naria would be lost.
Similarly, a
trader at Onitsha main market, Mr. Jideofor Ulodimma, in his reaction to the
sit-at-home order said that it would affect ordinary individuals who depend on
daily sales to feed their families, saying that there are other ways to honour
the fallen heroes rather than shutting down the entire system.
Meanwhile,
the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) founded by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has
reaffirmed its resolve to mark the Biafra Day on May 30 with singing and
dancing, while dismissing the sit-at-home order issued by IPOB
Leader of
Anambra South Senatorial zone of BIM/MASSOB, Chief Arinze Igbani, who addressed
newsmen in Nnewi dismissed IPOB and its leaders as people who had been
systematically edged out of the mainstream of the struggle to actualize Biafra.
Igbani
queried why people should sit at home during an important celebration and told
all in Biafra land to feel free and not to confine themselves to their homes.
BIM and
MASSOB, it is to be noted, had said the celebration would last for one week,
starting on May 22 and ending on May 30 with public singing and dancing across Igbo
land.
While urging
Igbo people to fully mark the day with singing, dancing and commemorative
football matches and other social events, he warned security agents to steer
clear of the members of BIM in the course of the celebration.
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