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  • 2019: Don’t deceive us with construction of second Niger Bridge, MASSOB tells Buhari

    …says Presidents Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan promised same

    The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has called on the Federal Government not to deceive the South-East and South-South regions with the construction of the second Niger Bridge.

    MASSOB said rather than make empty promises on the construction of a second Niger Bridge, the Federal Government should concentrate on the reconstruction of the bad roads in the two regions.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had during the governorship campaign of the APC in Onitsha, assured the people of Anambra State that the Federal Government would construct the second Niger Bridge before end of 2019.

    However, in a swift reaction, the National Director of Information of the pro-Biafran group, Mr. Sunday Okereafor, expressed surprise that while the roads in the South-East and South-South had become death traps, the Federal Government was promising to construct a second Niger Bridge.

    “Rather than making empty promises, the Federal Government should declare a state of emergency on the roads in the South-East and South-South. It is surprising that major roads in the South-South, where oil is produced, are in deplorable condition,” Okereafor added.

    He also urged the people of the South-East not to be deceived by such a promise, recalling that past administrations gave a similar assurance but reneged on it.

    He said, “The promise is an empty one. What of our roads? Even where they produce oil, the roads there are still bad. From Rivers State to Enugu, from Enugu to Onitsha, the roads are all death traps.

    “On the second Niger Bridge, former President Olusegun Obasanjo awarded the contract, ex-President (Umaru) Yar’Adua talked about it; former President Jonathan also promised to do it and now, President (Muhammadu) Buhari is promising that his government will construct it.

    “We are telling Ndigbo not to believe them (FG). It (promise) is only aimed at getting their votes in 2019. The second Niger Bridge cannot work. They should repair the bad roads first.”

  • Nnamdi Kanu, dead or alive is ‘Biafra hero’ – MASSOB

    The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) on Sunday said the missing leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is a true hero of Biafra, either dead or alive.

    MASSOB described Kanu as a determined man who was destined for the actualisation of Biafra.

    In a statement posted by its leader, Uchenna Madu, MASSOB said: “Kanu does not pose any danger to Nigeria’s existence; the problem that poses a dangerous extinction to Nigeria’s existence is Hausa/Fulani domination of Nigeria over the general interest of other ethnic nationalities.”

    MASSOB said Kanu had proven to be a loved figure for championing the self-determination struggle for the actualisation and restoration of Biafra.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Nnamdi Kanu disappeared from the public after the alleged raid of his residence by the military on September 14.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Nigerian military, Police and other security agencies have however denied arresting the embattled IPOB leader, insisting that are also on his trail.

  • Lagos, Abuja, other cities Igbos dominate, invest in are part of Biafra land – MASSOB

    Lagos, Abuja, other cities Igbos dominate, invest in are part of Biafra land – MASSOB

    The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, on Thursday declared that Lagos; Nigeria’s commercial hub and Abuja; the nation’s capital territory and some other cities where Igbos live, work and have investments in are all part of Biafra.

    Speaking at Awgu, in Enugu, during a rally organised to welcome the leader of another pro-Biafra group, the Biafra National Guard, ‘General’ Innocent Oji, the leader of MASSOB, Comrade Kingsley Madu said Igbos had contributed immensely in the development of the various cities where they live.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Oji was recently released from detention.

    “Pro-Biafra groups have adopted a new ideology which stated that any part of the country where a large population of Igbos is found, and where Igbos contributed towards human and material development, is part of Biafra,” Madu said.

    According to him, ‘Biafrans’ do not want to ‘confine’ themselves to a particular place.

    The Biafra National Guard is said to be the ‘military wing’ of the pro-Biafra groups.

    Addressing the rally, Madu raised the alarm over the alleged sacking of Igbo traders from a portion of land at Trade Fair and FESTAC in Lagos.

    He said the affected traders were evicted by Lagos State Government after they had invested billions of naira in developing the area.

    Igbo would not be forced out in any part of Nigeria, where they invested lots of resources to develop, Madu vowed.

    Stressing that Lagos and Abuja are part of Biafra, he said, “Some years back a portion of land at Trade Fair and FESTAC were conceded to our people for development in Lagos.

    “After spending billions of naira in developing this part of Lagos for the economic growth of Nigerian government, today information reaching us is that the Federal Government, conniving with the Lagos State Government, yesterday retrieved the land, the platform, all the investment and everything from the people of Biafra.

    “This is part of the reason for Biafra agitation.

    “And we are warning because we now believe that everywhere an Igbo man is is part of Biafra.

    “That is the latest ideology we have.

    “We don’t want to confine ourselves to a particular place; we now believe that wherever our foot touches is our land that is Biafra.

    “Lagos is also Biafra, Abuja is also Biafra.

    “Anywhere our people are that place is Biafra.

    “So what we are saying now is that that part of Lagos that our people developed with their money is also part of Biafra and we cannot leave.”

    The MASSOB leader, however, advised Igbos to locate their investments in the ‘Biafra mainland’, South-East and South-South, where they are guaranteed safety and protection.

    He welcomed Oji back home after several years in detention.

    Earlier, Oji, leader of Biafra National Guard, commended Madu for carrying on with the struggle while he was incarcerated.

    Oji declared that Biafra will be achieved in less than one year.

    The Biafra military wing leader warned that any attempt by the Federal Government to arrest the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who he described as ‘Supreme Leader’, would be met with stiff resistance.

    “By the grace of God, this struggle will not last beyond one year from now because we have our strategy.

    “But if the Federal Government feels we cannot do anything let them go and arrest our supreme leader, Nnamdi Kanu, for them to see what we can do,” he said.

    Oji also warned the British Government, which he said was responsible for the perceived oppression of Igbos.

    He said, “Have it in your mind today that Britain is aware of what is happening in Nigeria, all these things they are doing to us is caused by Britain.

    “I am using this opportunity to warn Britain and their government, if they say they are not behind what Fulani herdsmen are doing to our people, killing our people and raping our women and other things, they should come out openly and deny it and ask Nigeria to let us go, otherwise when it will happen nobody should be talking about genocide, Britain should be held responsible.”

  • Election must hold in Anambra – MASSOB

    The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has said the governorship election in Anambra State must hold.

    National Director of Information of MASSOB, Sunday Okereafor said this in an interview with Punch.

    This is contrary to a statement made by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, that the election would not hold in the state.

    Okoreafor said IPOB was planning to create more problems for Igbos and also get them killed.

    “IPOB is wrong to have said the election will not hold. How can they say the election will not hold? They want to create problems in Nigeria. They want our people to be killed again?

    “We are saying no violence and they are inciting violence. The people of Anambra should go ahead and elect their leaders on the day of the election,” he said.

    He added that the group was planning to establish a Biafra radio station in Germany.

    He said, “Eighteen years of MASSOB existence would be celebrated on September 13, 2017. We will celebrate it in a big way and MASSOB is saying election must hold in Anambra. It must surely hold.

    “We have come a long way and we are the founders of the struggle. All the pro-Biafra groups came out of MASSOB. We are telling Anambra people to go ahead in November and be part of the election.”

  • Quit notice: MASSOB declares August for ‘repatriation’ of Igbos

    In compliance with October 1 Arewa youth quit notice deadline, the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State Biafra (MASSOB) has declared August a month of mass return for Igbo living in the northern parts of the country.

    The group said the choice of August was informed by its significance in Igbo calendar as the period for new yam festival and women’s August meeting.

    In a statement issued yesterday by MASSOB’s National Information Officer, Samuel Edesonu, and made available to our correspondent in Awka, the group said the decision was taken at its national executive meeting presided over by MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu.

    The group charged the Igbo, especially women, to persuade their loved ones, including their husbands and children to take advantage of the period to come back home, assuring that Biafra Intelligence Agency had been deployed to the northern Nigeria for monitoring of the situation.

    It called on the Eze Ndigbo in the 19 Northern States to commence the compilation of names, residential addresses and villages/towns of all Igbo living in their respective northern cities, adding that such data collation of the people should end on 10th of September 2017.

    The statement reads in part,” The Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) after our National Executive meeting that was presided by our leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu resolved as follows: “That in continuation of our earlier stand and position on the quit notice order to the people of Biafra by Arewa people which will elapse on Oct 1st, MASSOB insists and beckons on Biafrans living in Arewa land to intensify efforts in relocating their families back home.

    “That MASSOB have resolved that the month of August being a significant month of special festivals of Iri ji (New yam) and Women August meeting in Igbo land, MASSOB have declared this the month of August 2017, a special month of mass return for all Igbos living in Northern Nigeria.

    “That MASSOB also mandated all married Igbo women living in Northern Nigeria to start intimating their husbands about the dangers of staying in Arewa land which no longer guaranteed their safeties. They should also intensify their pressure on their husbands concerning the Mass return in this next month.

    “That after the September 10th deadline for this compilation, MASSOB will embark on investigation of all the Eze Ndigbo in northern cities to ascertain their levels of participation in this ancestral order.

    “That MASSOB urge the Eze Ndigbo in northern cities to carry out this compilation of our kinsmen data as a native and ancestry exercise. We appeal to them not to betray this acts of nobility because of their individual’s interest or favor from Hausa Fulani.

    “That MASSOB under the leadership of Comrade Uchenna Madu will continue undeterred in nonviolence pursuant of Biafra actualization and restoration”.

  • MASSOB chides S’East governors for wearing Hausa/Fulani attire

    The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, on Wednesday chided South-East governors for wearing “Hausa/Fulani traditional attire” at public functions.

    MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu in a statement berated governors of Ebonyi and Enugu states, Dave Umahi and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, respectively, for putting on Hausa/Fulani attire at the recent meeting between Igbo leaders and the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa.

    He said the governors were wrong to have worn a Hausa/Fulani traditional attire while leading a delegation of Igbo leaders to a sensitive meeting with the Acting President.

    He added that no Hausa/Fulani governor would ever wear an Igbo attire in public.

    “Although, MASSOB has respect and regard for Igbo governors, we openly disagree with them on certain moves that are against the general interest of our people.

    “MASSOB condemns the attitude of Dave Umahi and Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, governors of Ebonyi and Enugu states, respectively, during the Igbo leaders’ meeting with Osinbajo, where they wore Hausa/Fulani traditional attire.”

    The group also faulted the exemption of pro-Biafra leaders in the discussions over an ultimatum given to Igbos in the North to leave.

    The MASSOB leader claimed the governors and other political, traditional, religious and opinion leaders that met with the Acting President were not actually in charge’ in Igboland.

  • Biafra Day celebration: No group should force people to stay at home – Ekweremadu

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremmadu, has advised that Biafra Day celebration as well as the sit-at-home order declared by some right groups in South-East for May 30 should be optional.

    The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra had called on citizens of South-East to stay at home on May 30 to observe their anniversary.

    Ekweremmadu gave the advice on Sunday at an Inter-denominational church service at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Abakaliki, to commemorate 2017 Democracy Day and Gov. David Umahi’s second year in office.

    He noted that while the agitation and concerns of the groups are genuine, they should not be pursued with force or other forms of armed struggle.

    “Individuals who operate private businesses and want to stay-at-home on that day should stay, while those who want to operate their businesses should be allowed to do so.

    “I believe that civil and public workers should be ready to go to work on that day as I appeal that no group should force people to stay at home against their wishes,” he added.

    The deputy senate president called on the agitators to embrace dialogue and constructive engagement in pursuing their agitation; not coercion or other forms of armed struggle.

    “The struggles and concerns are genuine but with the collaboration of all and constructive engagement, we will surely get to our destination no matter how long it takes.

    “Black Americans agitated for a long time before Barack Obama became president in 2008, likewise in India, it took constructive engagement for the people to actualise their agitation.

    “South Africa despite racial disturbances and black oppression, employed constructive engagement and intervention of the western world and African interests such as Nigeria’s, to dismantle apartheid,” he said.

    Ekweremadu congratulated the people of Ebonyi on the second year in office of their governor.

    He noted that the state had matured politically and socially, adding that any indigene could aspire for any political office in the state.

    In his remark, Umahi noted that no individual or group would force the citizens of the state to stay-at-home on May 30.

    “I have met the leadership of these groups on various occasions and discovered that most of their agitations are correct but the ways they seek to actualise them can be faulted.

    “I have also met the leadership of market unions in the state and we resolved that markets would be open on that day and no trader or any other individual will be molested,” he said.

    The governor said that the case of Ebonyi was different as the state had suffered untold marginalisation right from its days in old Anambra, Imo, Enugu and Abia states.

    “The deputy senate president is fighting marginalisation of the Igbos at the federal level; when this is addressed, we will start our own agitation of marginalisation as a state.

    “Ebonyi does not believe in regional government because we will continue suffering deprivation but believe in the restructuring of the country to address all imbalances,” he said.

    In his homily, Rev. Fr Abraham Nwali urged political and economic leaders in the state to build industries instead of embarking on ‘non-direct-impact’ projects such as hotels.
    “The governor should be supported in his desire to ensure that sachet water companies are constructed in the three senatorial zones of the state,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prayers were said by officiating ministers of the Presbyterian Church for the unity of the country and peace in Ebonyi. (NAN)

  • Biafra: MASSOB disowns Uwuazurike’s group, distances self from 22 May celebration

    The leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) has distanced itself from the celebration slated for Monday, May 22.

    The group said it was not affiliated to any group called Biafra Independent Movement led by Chief Ralph Uwuazrurike.

    MASSOB in a statement by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu asked its teeming members to shun the May 22 celebration and brace up for the main event slated for May 30, which is Biafra Remembrance Day.

    He called on supporters of the movement not to give up as the birth of Biafra was already in sight.

    The statement reads in full.

    “We have reiterated our solemn oath taking for actualization and restoration of an independent Republic of Biafra, we reassure the people of Biafra that actualization and restoration of Biafra is sacrosanct and sacred.

    “Every aspect of Biafra struggle must abhor deceit, self glorification, tribal/religious sentiments and love for mundane things.

    “MASSOB declares full and total support for sit at home exercise for all Biafrans on 30th May, 2017 as a mark of respect and honour to our gallant Biafra soldiers and civilians that sacrificed their precious lives for establishment of Biafra during the bloody genocidal war against the people of Biafra in 1967–1970.

    “We must continue to remember, honour and celebrate the gallantry and braveness of Biafra soldiers whom the whole world was astonished for their military exploits during Nigeria Biafra war. Their bravery, military excellencies, consistency, technological exploits and intelligences can never be forgotten or silenced.

    “MASSOB wishes to inform the people of Biafra that we don’t have any Biafra anniversary program on 22 May, 2017. Our Biafra anniversary program is on 30th May, 2017 which is Biafra day.

    “The sit at home exercise calls for sober reflection on the way forward, it calls for individual and family prayers for speedy actualization and restoration of Biafra, it will also reflect on building synergy and cohesion among the Pro Biafra groups for the preparation for the coming referendum.

    “MASSOB also reiterates our earlier position that we are not attached to any group called Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), MASSOB is not BIM, also the so called BIM can never be MASSOB. MASSOB collaborates and work with other genuine pro “Biafra groups like IPOB, Lower Niger Congress, Eastern Peoples Congress, Biafra Peoples National Council, Joint Revolutionary Council and AFRA Descendants. The people of Biafra should disregard the false information that MASSOB will observe Biafra day on May 22, 2017.

    “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 celebration 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 must be channeled towards popular civil disobedience program that will immensely attract the attention of the international communities towards Biafra actualization and restoration.

    “We are aware that Nigeria security agents are not comfortable about the coming anniversary. MASSOB is also aware that security agents will exhibit their jittery and fears mostly the overzealous ones that love operating the trigger in a cowardice manner against non violence Biafra agitators. The threat and presence of Nigeria security agents will not deter us from exercising our fundamental indigenous 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 Biafra Nation. Whatever measure or approach of security agents against the celebration of Biafra declaration anniversary day can never subdue or subject 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 established or instituted. Their duty is to watch and observe the sympathetic reactions of the international communities towards Biafra restoration.

    “Sit at home exercise has been a recycling program of civil disobedience that ultimately promotes and re echoed the consciousness of Biafra reality. No military or spiritual powers can stop the collective will of the people.”

  • Ignore IPOB’s May 30 sit at home order, MASSOB tells Ndigbo

    The Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign States of Biafra has urged Ndigbo to ignore the order by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, that called for sit-at-home on May 30.

    MASSOB also accused IPOB of ignorance and lacking the knowledge of the circumstances and events of the struggle towards actualizing the independence of the state of Biafra.

    Addressing newsmen in Aba on Monday, Biafran Independence Movement/MASSOB‘s Director for Arts and Culture, Abia South zone, Reuben Ekpem, flanked by the Director, Conflict/ Reconciliation, Obed Chiedozie and Director of Information, George Ejiofor, stated that IPOB’s directive to Biafra people to sit at home on May 30, clearly suggests that the group is bent on inflicting more pains on Ndigbo and knows nothing about the struggle for the actualization.

    He said, “IPOB knows little or nothing about Biafra. Biafra day is May 22, not May 30. For IPOB to declare May 30, the day Biafra was declared by Ojukwu, as at home day for Biafra implies that they do not know the history of Biafra. We have been on the struggle till 1999 till date. IPOB should stop using propaganda and inquire from Uwazuruike about the details of the Biafra struggle. MASSOB encourages Biafra people to come out on May 22 to celebrate the new Biafra which Chief Ralph Uwazuruike launched in Aba on May 22, 2000. They should ignore IPOB’s sit at home order.

    “There will be no closure of markets, school or banks and other business centres. Unlike IPOB, we cannot be seen to be inflicting pains on the same people we seek to liberate. It is a day of independence, a day of joy; not sit at home. Biafra people are free to come out to celebrate and enjoy.

    ‘From 23rd to 29th May, it is celebration while 30th May will feature inter-zonal football matches. You have seen the programmes lined up, why will IPOB seek to confine our people to sit at home and mourn when they should be celebrating? IPOB is sabotaging Biafra.We urge Biafra people not to be deceived by IPOB’s propaganda.”

  • Direct your anti-war advice to Fulani herdsmen, MASSOB tells Sultan

    Direct your anti-war advice to Fulani herdsmen, MASSOB tells Sultan

    The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra has faulted the advice by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, that Nigerians should avoid acts that could plunge the country into another civil war.

    MASSOB said rather than making reference to the whole country, the Sultan ought to have directed his advice to Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents.

    The Sultan of Sokoto had, during one of the programmes to mark the Rivers State’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, said Nigeria would not be able to survive another civil war, expressing the need to shun acts that might cause war in the country.

    The National Director of Information for the movement, Mr. Sunday Okereafor, who spoke in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday, stated that MASSOB had never shown any act of violence in the struggle for a sovereign state of Biafra.

    Okereafor explained that while Fulani herdsmen had been killing and maiming people in the southern part of the country, Boko Haram sect had continued to perpetrate similar acts in the North-East.

    He stated that MASSOB would not stop its strategy of non-violence in the struggle for self-determination in spite of alleged crackdown on its members.

    The spokesman added, “We are not fighting any war this time around. MASSOB will remain non-violent and we will continue with the non-violent approach. This is the 18th year of the struggle by MASSOB. Despite the crackdown, all the killings, all the arrests and provocations, we still remain non-violent.

    “The Sultan should direct his statement to Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram group, who are killing and maiming people in Nigeria. The Igbo are peaceful people.

    “How can Sultan of Sokoto be talking about civil war? They (North) are the people inciting violence.

    “Fulani herdsmen are from the North and they have been killing our people in our bush. They want to provoke us.

    “They know that MASSOB is non-violent, but they are using Fulani herdsmen to bring war so that we will react. But we are not interested in that.”

    Okoroafor stated that the Igbo people would have been decimated if they were people stealing cows in Nigeria.

    “They want to use the herdsmen to conquer us, but we are saying no to war. So, we are telling the Sultan of Sokoto to refer his statement to his brothers, the Fulani herdsmen,” he added.