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MASSOB Threatens to Disrupt 2003 Polls in Igboland From Agaju Madugba in Kaduna

Following on the heels of threat by Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu that Igbo people could secede from Nigeria again, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has threatened not to allow federal elections in Igboland come 2003.

In an exclusive interview with THISDAY, Friday, following a massive reception by his teeming members and supporters in the Northern City of Kaduna, MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike vowed that the 2003 presidential and federal parliamentary elections would not hold in the South-East and South-South zones.

According to him, "MASSOB will allow the elections into the Houses of Assembly, the governorship and the local governments only. For the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Presidency, there will be no elections in the Biafran territory."

The MASSOB leader's controversial position comes just days after the ex-Biafran leader, Ojukwu, threatened that the Igbo people may re-consider their position in Nigeria if the outcome of the much canvassed National Conference is unfavourable to them. Ojukwu spoke early in the week at a press conference organised by former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Chu S. P. Okongwu.Although Uwazurike acknowledged that a number of his supporters were currently being detained by security agencies in parts of the country, he said that, "I am not a wanted person, otherwise I would not be here. Why should I be a wanted person, am I Bin Laden? I am not a Nigerian. I don't travel on Nigerian passport. I am a Biafran, along with over seven million others across the world," he said.

Uwazurike, however, vowed to his supporters in Kaduna that not only is there no going back on MASSOB plans, the organisation would prosecute Governor Achike Udenwa of Imo state whenever the group realises its project.

He said Udenwa constituted "a stumbling block" to the aspirations of MASSOB especially in establishing a sovereign state of Biafra, for eastern Nigeria.

The MASSOB leader later told THISDAY in an exclusive interview that he had delineated the area including Delta State, into 24 regions with provincial administrators already appointed.Uwazurike explained that he was in Kaduna to formally commission MASSOB in the north and "to talk about Biafra and to tell my people about the project we are into."

The highpoint of the meeting was the swearing-in of a MASSOB activist, Mr Leonard Ukatu, as the "Biafran Ambassador to Northern Nigeria."

He also assured his supporters that there would not be any form of marginalisation in Biafraland noting that, "the first Biafran President will not come from the Igbo speaking areas."

Uwazurike who commissioned the Biafra House in the United States of America (USA) recently, said that the German Government had requested him to also set up a 'Biafran embassy' in that country.According to him, MASSOB had equally acquired a property in London for another 'embassy' in Great Britain.

When THISDAY visited his hotel room on yesterday morning, Uwazurike said that, "the provincial administrators will take control of the Biafran regions. The Biafran police already assist in crime control in some parts of the area."

Biafra is already actualised; today we have Voice of Biafra International which broadcasts weekly for now, we have commissioned the Biafra House in the USA, so, the world has come to know that Biafra exists.

"With time, the sovereignty, that is, the power of the state, will be established. That is the only thing left. "We have the Biafran police, we have the Biafran intelligence service, we have the Biafran court, all of them are operational."

"We have not yet established the Armed Forces and that will come when we have full sovereignty. Our concept is non-violence and that is why we cannot give a definite date for that sovereignty."

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Is Biafra already actualized? Are Biafra courts operational? Who are the Biafran police? Can MASSOB really prosecute Udenwa? Why does MASSOB want power but won’t go to the poll? How will Uwazurike ensure that the first President of Biafra will not be Igbo?

A merry Christmas to you too.

I have read through the posts and do not see the "spin" you've referred to. Please identify the exact post/s you refer to as "spin".

I see a serious contradiction in your premise. And let me explain, it appears Mr Uwazuruike made certain pronouncements without the proper consultation required,
the relevant organs of MASSOB take the matter up and suspend him. We say, that is very good and in fact shows that MASSOB is a democratic organisation, and you take issue with that, hmmm.

You have now asked several questions based on Mr Uwazuruike's prononucement and requested 'no spin'. Please update yourself first on the reaction of MASSOB (i.e the suspension) and rephrase your questions.

MASSOB's re/action speaks volumes in my view.
Now, should the organisation feel it is neccessary to boycott the sham elections, it is their prerogative to do so.

Remember, MASSOB is no different from other organisation. MASSOB will make mistakes and learn from them, that the is natural learning process. However, I do not think that in a fraudulent set up like Nigeria, boycotting corrupt election practices and the results it produces is necessarily wrong.

My brother, make you no dey look for smoke where fire no dey. Please look at a statement contained in your post and attributed to Mr Uwazuruike below and tell me what is wrong with the non-violence method both he and MASSOB have adopted to achieve their goals.

"We have not yet established the Armed Forces and that will come when we have full sovereignty. Our concept is non-violence and that is why we cannot give a definite date for that sovereignty."

Stay blessed!

Those questions you posed are your assignment. Now, get your lazy behind up and down there to Biafra-Nigeria; and perform a little bit of original journalistic interview...for once...on your own. Don't cow behind another journalist's report. Ask the questions directly to Uwazuruike, if your agenda is genuine.

Asking the boardmembers to provide personal opinions which in no way serve as Uwazuruike's answers reeks of dubious journalism which you represent.

I always believed Rudolf has the potentials, indeed he has far better credentials than the Ngbati champions he sheepishly follows just so he can stay on the inside and piss on his brethren outside. Like one of our sisters noted here,Rudolf is now being told to piss on his own. When will Rudolf step up to the plate and take on the half baked journalists of the Ngbati press like Abati and his ilk ? It appears he would rather spend time trying to discredit MASSOB and Uwazuruike, this is akin to playing the house ****** . If he is aware of a better strategy why not put accross this idea to the relevant groups rather then all these attempts at I am right you guys are wrong.

Hail Biafra

I was under the impression that someone like Amanda has what it takes to lead MASSOB - which includes the ability to answer questions for an organization that is close to her heart. But I was wrong, once again.

So, it is safe to assume that either that Uwazurike's strategy is not clear to his admirers or that they are so mesmerized by it that they lacked the will to take a critical look.

You can run away, as far as you wish, but these questions shall contiue to hang like a shadow beside you.

All the best!

You still haven't made your point. When you hopped in here with your "wither MASSOB..." posting, Osetutu identified you as very bitter young man out to wage cyber war on MASSOB. You haven't proved him wrong.

You have flung caution to the wind in your mad desire to score some cheap point before your one nigerian journeymen. In doing that and in your now incessant personal attacks you've also completely widened the goal-post on the response you'll attract in this forum.

The issue of the actualisation of Biafra is a very serious one and clowns like your goodself will do well to remain at jokes and music section of the board.

I'll leave you with what they say in Naples "when you think you are messing them you won't know they are messing you". You are under the debating beam now!

Read again my friend and see if actually what you suggested was the reason our man Uwezurike was suspended or was he a one man gang?.