It has been more than 48-hours since I asked the two MASSOB factions and Biafra Foundation to come clean on the misuse of funds raised for Biafra actualization and other allegations of impropriety contained in press releases by the Uwazuruike and Okwukwu/orjiakor factions of MASSOB. Those organizations have ignored the warning. In the meantime, we hear that Chief Uwazuruike has been accepting bribes from the deputy governor of Imo State to suppress investigations of the murder of MASSOB members. Sources inform me of other more devastating allegations.

Mr. Orjiakor is accused of stealing funds from MASSOB and using the funds for gun running and other private uses. Uche Okwukwu, the lawyer, has managed to cover up his own fraudulent activities. But, they are bound to come out soon.

Biafra Foundation has been collecting money in the name of fighting for Biafra. Some of us in this forum responded in a call to action and raised money that was given to Biafra Foundation. Biafra Foundation has not given an account of funds raised and how those funds were used. Now, we hear fraud allegations about the principal officers of MASSOB in whose behalf Biafra Foundation collected those funds.

The Biafra House project, which we thought was an actual house has turned out to be a hoax of an office. Nothing that Biafra Foundation does is transparent.

However, let's not loose sleep if indeed the MASSOB leaders have been fraudulent. If I have my way they will be put behind bars for abusing people's goodfaith.

Looking to the future, assuming MASSOB refuses to come clean, we must learn the lessons here and continue to work for self-determination for Igbos.

There are several self-determination groups in Nigeria (and the world) of which MASSOB is just one. If MASSOB fails to issue a categorical statement, then we must conclude they are no diffrerent to Nigerians and perhaps, the time has come to bid MASSOB farewell!

Drawing a precedent from the travails of MOSOP and the Ogoni, it is a time-tested tactic of imperialists to sow disension through propaganda and monetary inducement. Even during Saro-Wiwa's lifetime, some disafected MOSOP members openly accused him of embezzling grants given to MOSOP by Western foundations and charities; some even went as far as alleging that he was secretly on Shell's payroll and was just leading innocent Ogoni youths on a suicide mission a la Bin Ladin. Another version which was planted in the Nigerian media by Shell PR people was that Saro-Wiwa was all along just trying to extort money from Shell and other oil companies.

Again, there is a precedent in Zik's travails in 1954 at the Foster-Sutton commission of inquiry set up by the British colonialists to discredit Zik. E.O.Eyo, the former premier of the Eastern region was aggrieved [rightly so, in my opinion] by his ouster by NCNC Igbo MPs, in order for Zik to be premier after Awo's carpet-crossing move denied Zik premiership of the West. Eyo made allegations that Eastern Nigerian government funds were wrongfully deposited in ACB, which at that time was a private bank with Zik as major shareholder and that some of the funds had been recycled to the NCNC for electioneering. Eyo was represented at the Foster-Sutton commission by British lawyers, paid for by Awo and the AG in order to finish off Zik politically.Zik also hired British lawyers and avoided indictment for financial wrongdoing by the commission but was compelled to surrender his shares in ACB to the Eastern Nigeria government.

When shall you learn?

These men sit down in their houses and issue ultimatum to others. Why bother to explain things to them? Aren’t they the worst form of activists you can find anywhere in the world? They gave out money to a group they do not know who the leaders are. Now, they come on www to issue ultimatum to people who may not know that the web site where they grumble exists.

How difficult is it to find the email, phone number or address of BF members? I want to believe that some members of BF are on this board. But if there is no BF member on this board, then, that must be a big SHAME! It is not hard to find the answers they seek. But like armchair activists that they are, they will rather sit at home and have the revolution delivered for them via the Internet.

Remember that Ohaneze was ordered never to talk for Igbos by someone on this board. It is all parts of the sensibility that mixes inaction with grave illusion of how things work. It is worse than propaganda. This one is ignorance in action.

Don’t be surprised that even those who gave nothing will come here and ask for disbandment of these groups. Nobody will be so pissed off to the point of packing his or her things to go home and lead – storm there and show them leadership by example. Nobody will be so mad as to form his or her own group and show the ideal leadership. It is easier to abandon the revolution and return to the warm embrace of their wives or their husbands, as the case may be.

No! The bell tolls for anyone but them.

That has always been the tragedy of our generation – the Oti Nkpu generation. There is no limit to the noise we can make. But when it is time for sacrifice, our heels shall be touching our ears. Everyone wants ready-made things. It is the job of others to deliver the goodies for us. Ours is just to sit back and cheer. Oti nkpu generation, we are. Any hitches, we jump ship. It is sad! It is very very sad.

I am really amazed at the indiscriminate use of the pronoun “WE” on this board. Who are the “We”s. If you read those uses of ‘we’, you come under the assumption that these people are members of a group whose goals they advocate, or that they know at least, the leaders of the ideas they espouse. But no! These senior advocates have no idea where Biafra really is.

After the Biafra House opening, we all read this report. If Biafra House was a hoax, then even Ojukwu was hoaxed, since he could clearly be seen holding the tape. It could well be that even our members at the ceremony were hoaxed too. Chei! I hate to think that such an elaborate plan was made to fool so many people.

quote:

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Originally posted by Patrick:
Sundiatta:

After the Biafra House opening, [b]we all read this report. If Biafra House was a hoax, then even Ojukwu was hoaxed, since he could clearly be seen holding the tape. It could well be that even our members at the ceremony were hoaxed too. Chei! I hate to think that such an elaborate plan was made to fool so many people.

But, we know that members of Biafra Foundation are regular visitors/members to/of this forum. It is the responsibility of Biafra Foundation to clear up this mess.[/B]

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What I'm hearing about MASSOB and Biafra Foundation is very disturbing.
On the part of MASSOB, the leaders of MASSOB are all guilty of backbiting each other. What they are doing shows that Ray Batubo, Uche Okwukwu or Ralph Uwazuruike, are greedy and want to use MASSOB to make a name and money for themselves.

Information had it that Uche Okwukwu is a hard core hard liquor drinker. His weakness is alcohol and he drinks like fish. Prince Orjiakor is also a hard drinker who slurs his words when he drinks too much. Ralph Uwazuruike is an Islam convert by the name, Usman Mohammed.
It is a shame that these men want us to accept them as MASSOB leaders without having the leadership quality that is needed to lead us Biafrans to the promised land.

Biafra Foundation is deceiving the Biafrans big time. Many eastern ethnic organizations had a problem with the way Biafra Foundation conducted the Biafra House opening. Some of us were told that we would be contacted and invited to the Biafra house opening. That did not happen. No non-Igbo dignitaries or embassies were invited. The two songs sang by an Igbo woman at that occasion were all sang in Igbo. It is clear that Biafra House was for Igbo people which was organized by Biafra Foundation.

Biafra House does not exist. The Biafra House party was held at a rented conference room on the 7th floor of that building. The conference room was rented for that Biafra Foundation party for that saturday only. I went there several times myself and asked a lot of questions. The female receptionist got annoyed with me when I kept telling her about the address of Biafra House and asking her to show it to me. People said that Biafra House collected up to $15,000 that night. Why was Ray Batubo not invited? Why did Biafra Foundation not invite the MASSOB leaders for Ibibioland, Efik land, Annang land, and Ogoniland? Is Biafra only for Igbos? So if Ralph Uwazuruike, Uche Okwukwu, and Prince Orjiakor received $5,000 from Biafra Foundation, what did they do with the $5000?

What did Biafra Foundation do with the rest of the money which is about $10,000? Who are the members of Biafra Foundation? Who is the treasurer? Is Biafra Foundation registered with IRS as non profit organization? Who is their banker? In case those who donated money want to use that as tax exempt, has Biafra Foundation given out their tax-exempt IRS code? What does Biafra Foundation stand for? Those of us who feel cheated and left out want to know what the constitution and charter of Biafra Foundation are.

These are very serious and disturbing allegations. Do you have any further information about the alleged conversion of Uwazuruike to Islam? When did this happen and where? With the greatest respect to you, I kind of find the story rather improbable. But then I don't know that much about Uwazuruike's antecedents other than that he was a lawyer in Lagos at one time.

Personally, I don't care that much about people's drinking habits - I like my g&t too much - unless it interferes with their faculties and capacity to work e.g. Okadigbo.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eno Udoh:
Hello All!

What I'm hearing about MASSOB and Biafra Foundation is very disturbing.
On the part of MASSOB, the leaders of MASSOB are all guilty of backbiting each other. What they are doing shows that Ray Batubo, Uche Okwukwu or Ralph Uwazuruike, are greedy and want to use MASSOB to make a name and money for themselves.

Information had it that Uche Okwukwu is a hard core hard liquor drinker. His weakness is alcohol and he drinks like fish. Prince Orjiakor is also a hard drinker who slurs his words when he drinks too much. Ralph Uwazuruike is an Islam convert by the name, Usman Mohammed.
It is a shame that these men want us to accept them as MASSOB leaders without having the leadership quality that is needed to lead us Biafrans to the promised land.

Biafra Foundation is deceiving the Biafrans big time. Many eastern ethnic organizations had a problem with the way Biafra Foundation conducted the Biafra House opening. Some of us were told that we would be contacted and invited to the Biafra house opening. That did not happen. No non-Igbo dignitaries or embassies were invited. The two songs sang by an Igbo woman at that occasion were all sang in Igbo. It is clear that Biafra House was for Igbo people which was organized by Biafra Foundation.

Biafra House does not exist. The Biafra House party was held at a rented conference room on the 7th floor of that building. The conference room was rented for that Biafra Foundation party for that saturday only. I went there several times myself and asked a lot of questions. The female receptionist got annoyed with me when I kept telling her about the address of Biafra House and asking her to show it to me. People said that Biafra House collected up to $15,000 that night. Why was Ray Batubo not invited? Why did Biafra Foundation not invite the MASSOB leaders for Ibibioland, Efik land, Annang land, and Ogoniland? Is Biafra only for Igbos? So if Ralph Uwazuruike, Uche Okwukwu, and Prince Orjiakor received $5,000 from Biafra Foundation, what did they do with the $5000?

What did Biafra Foundation do with the rest of the money which is about $10,000? Who are the members of Biafra Foundation? Who is the treasurer? Is Biafra Foundation registered with IRS as non profit organization? Who is their banker? In case those who donated money want to use that as tax exempt, has Biafra Foundation given out their tax-exempt IRS code? What does Biafra Foundation stand for? Those of us who feel cheated and left out want to know what the constitution and charter of Biafra Foundation are.

We are angry now. Biafra Foundation took money for MASSOB of Igboland and they are all hiding what they did with the money. We want to know it. If they want any of us to believe in their leadership, they have to tell us how much they collected from us and what they did with the money.

---

The only way you will know the truth is to ask questions. Ask Biafra Foundation to tell how much money they collected for Biafra House opening. Make them tell you how much they gave to MASSOB. Ask Chief Uwazuruike about his conversion and his moslem name. Sharia people no do dis kin thing for secret o. All these people are still alife and can be contacted to talk.

You say that you like your drink and don't see anything wrong about that. Okay. But when you expect people to lead by example, they should noy get drunk in public. It does not bring prestige to MASSOB or to MASSOB followers. A leader who makes his weakness known to the enemy can be brought down thru it.

I am back to base after a long holiday. It is amazing what I read from the board. It is a shame that corruption has set in.

What I am reading is disturbing on the one hand and a challenge on the other. It is a challenge to Biafrans as a people and to Biafra as a nation. It is a test on the resolve to build a nation devoid of corruption and funded on equity and fairplay. It is a slap on the Biafran followers (Igbos and non-Igbos alike), who must now stand tall and determine who leads them. It is a time that call on the non-Igbo Biafrans to wake-up and come stronger into the leadership of MASSOB and BF to ensure probity and accountability. It is time for a total reorganization and redirection of BF and MASSOB leadership.

Biafra must be cautious at this time because enemies abound everywhere.

I would suggest the following:
1. Full accountability of the activities of BF and MASSOB till date
then;

2. Biafrans demand the blue print on the leadreship structure of MASSOB and the names of MASSOB leaders from the various nationalities of Biafra (if there are) e.g. who is the MASSOB laeder of the Efik, Ibibio, Ijaw, etc

3. Tasks should then be given to the various leaders and budget drawn, including living stipend for such leaders since this would require full time on job activities.

4. Auditing should be done at least twice a year.
and so on, and so on.......

This way the leaders will know their job description and the expectations of the people.

Having carefully weighed the issue at stake and because I have access to The Biafra Actualisation Forum(BAF) where there are a lot of BF contributors, I forwarded Kabaka's posting unedited.

This is the reply I received. I shall be making my contrubution to the debate later.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mazi :

Thanks for cross-posting this article.

First, I want to say that the author's (Kabaka?) call is unfortunate, rash and wrong.

If he does not retract his call, he will only be part of the problem, not solution. He will have to state if he is disguised as an Obasanjo's agent and plant. I call on him to retract his call. Even Obsanjo and his agents will make donations to MASSOB and to any Biafran organization, so they can use that to try to mess up the organization.

From the newspaper articles, we can read, to the extent that the articles are correct, that there is a leadership crisis going on with MASSOB. We do not know the exact details, or the reason why. This is what well-intentioned Biafrans would like to find out--what is going on. That is what Biafra Foundation is doing.

As for all the funds being funneled to Biafra Foundation, and implied improprieties, Kabaka(?) needs to restate his concerns. It is false for him to make the conclusions and implicit accusations that he has made. The characterization of funds in any case expose his lack of understanding of what is going on.

The Biafra House may seem like a hoax to him, but it is serving its purpose--so well that the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, which could not pay its utilities including phone bills at one time, has now received an infusion of funds from the Nigerian Government to try to shut down Biafra House. The Nigerian Government has dragged in the US Ambassador to Nigeria to answer questions about the Biafra House. We do not know what Kabaka was expecting, but the Biafra House is serving Biafra well.

Kabaka or whoever's flippancy does not speak for leadership, either. All he has accomplished is to give more ammunition and comfort to those who want to see Biafra dead--tufiakwa! Biafra lives.

Folks: we are at crossroads now. Although MASSOB appears to be having problems, we can draw solace from the fact that it has grown to be a huge organization. Months ago, who would have believed the extent and reach of the organization? This is yet the only grassroots organization that will take on Obasanjo and the rest of Nigeria, and win, in peace. The responsible response is to find out what is happening, and to help in any way that we can.

There are people out there--Igbos and Nigerians alike; perhaps even foreign countries--looking for reasons and excuses to derail the only force that has brought the Igbo on the radar of political and social redemption. You can be part of that destructive group, or you can remain steadfast in your support of the redeeming force.

Today, Chief Uwazurike is now in the hands of Nigerian Security agents, from the recent reports that we are getting. This is the time for us to pray and act for his release. And, for the effective and efficient completion of MASSOB work in the actualization of Biafra in peace.

This is the time to support MASSOB and Chief Uwazurike. Anybody calling for otherwise needs to re-examine his or her motive. We know which side Obasanjo is on!

If you like, you can cross-post this response.

Merry Xmas, Umu Biafra.

Remain blessed, Biafra. Remain blessed, Biafrans. God bless MASSOB and her members and her leadership; and reassure all that the goal is God-guaranteed.

Who is the author of the vitriol? I just visited the biafraland site. Is Mr. Nwa Biafra the same person as Oguchi Nkwocha?

Please confirm. By the way, why is he not here to respond for himself? Is he pretending that he does not read this site regularly too?

quote:

---

As for all the funds being funneled to Biafra Foundation, and implied improprieties, Kabaka(?) needs to restate his concerns. It is false for him to make the conclusions and implicit accusations that he has made. The characterization of funds in any case expose his lack of understanding of what is going on.

---

I have confirmed that "Nwa Biafra" is the same person as Mr. Oguchi Nkwocha.

Mr. Nkwocha, thuggery is no substitute for leadership

Oguchi Nkwocha wrote,

quote:

---

If he does not retract his call, he will only be part of the problem, not solution. He will have to state if he is disguised as an Obasanjo's agent and plant. I call on him to retract his call. Even Obsanjo and his agents will make donations to MASSOB and to any Biafran organization, so they can use that to try to mess up the organization.

---

You are witness that before I opened this thread. There was a 48 hour period in which I asked the members of Biafra Foundation and the two MASSOBs to come clean on their handling of funds and other matters. I trust that you will pass the following message to Mr. Nkwocha.

Only an Igbo saboteur such as Mr. Nkwocha would expect a Biafran like me to retract a statement that insists upon accountability. It is now clear that Mr. Nkwocha has a dubious motive for his purported support of the Biafran struggle. Tell Mr. Oguchi Nkwocha that Biafrans will remember those who bury their heads in the sand while fraud is in progress. Specifically, we shall come to know his motivation for wanting to hush the issue of embezzlement that is boldly alleged by MASSOB members themselves.

If Mr. Oguchi Nkwochi is one of the "leaders" of Biafra Foundation, then it is incumbent upon him to account for the thousands of dollars that the organization is said to have collected to fight for Biafra. But then, again, since Mr. Nkwocha relies on newspaper articles to find out what is happening in the movement he pretends to lead, then he is not really leading the movement at all. A situation where a bunch of people constitute themselves into collectors for money that is subsequently embezzled is absolutely unacceptable. If Mr. Nkwocha thinks that he can bully anyone into submission, he is sadly mistaken.

It is a shame that Mr. Nkwocha has resorted to the tactics of a cretin. Why else would he suggest that I am an Obasanjo plant, merely because I asked that he account for money that he solicited and received from Biafrans. I have news for Mr. Nkwocha. Chasing the shadow of the Yoruba moron, Obasanjo, and pretending that someone is trying to close a non-existent "embassy" or even "House" is no way to fight for Biafra. You are disgracing our people.

Mr. Nkwocha also writes, "The Biafra House may seem like a hoax …. " The Biafra House does not only seem like a hoax, it is a hoax, thanks to Mr. Nkwocha and his ilk who look the other way as clear accusation of fraud and embezzlement are made by MASSOB members themselves. Money that could be used to build a real Biafra House is being diverted to people's pockets. I see that Mr. Nkwocha prefers to pretend that it was not Mr. Okwukwu and Mr. Orjiakor (both leaders of MASSOB) that are making the allegations of embezzlement.

Perhaps it is time for Biafrans to investigate Mr. Nkwocha and his own connections with Obasanjo, a man whose contacts and "plants" Mr. Nkwocha is intimately familiar with. To think that this fellow fancies himself to be a leader. TUFIAKWA! Is that the best that Mr. Nkwocha can do by way of tactic? If you ask him to account for money he collected, he will accuse you of being an "Obasanjo plant." That is not the spirit of Biafra. That is BiafraNigeria. What a cheap trick for avoiding accountability. No wonder, some of our people are having trouble believing what he and his gang are saying.

Here are more allegations for Mr. Nkwocha and his fellow ostriches to ignore.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eno Udoh:
Hello All!

What I'm hearing about MASSOB and Biafra Foundation is very disturbing.
On the part of MASSOB, the leaders of MASSOB are all guilty of backbiting each other. What they are doing shows that Ray Batubo, Uche Okwukwu or Ralph Uwazuruike, are greedy and want to use MASSOB to make a name and money for themselves.

Information had it that Uche Okwukwu is a hard core hard liquor drinker. His weakness is alcohol and he drinks like fish. Prince Orjiakor is also a hard drinker who slurs his words when he drinks too much. Ralph Uwazuruike is an Islam convert by the name, Usman Mohammed.
It is a shame that these men want us to accept them as MASSOB leaders without having the leadership quality that is needed to lead us Biafrans to the promised land.

Biafra Foundation is deceiving the Biafrans big time. Many eastern ethnic organizations had a problem with the way Biafra Foundation conducted the Biafra House opening. Some of us were told that we would be contacted and invited to the Biafra house opening. That did not happen. No non-Igbo dignitaries or embassies were invited. The two songs sang by an Igbo woman at that occasion were all sang in Igbo. It is clear that Biafra House was for Igbo people which was organized by Biafra Foundation.

Biafra House does not exist. The Biafra House party was held at a rented conference room on the 7th floor of that building. The conference room was rented for that Biafra Foundation party for that saturday only. I went there several times myself and asked a lot of questions. The female receptionist got annoyed with me when I kept telling her about the address of Biafra House and asking her to show it to me. People said that Biafra House collected up to $15,000 that night. Why was Ray Batubo not invited? Why did Biafra Foundation not invite the MASSOB leaders for Ibibioland, Efik land, Annang land, and Ogoniland? Is Biafra only for Igbos? So if Ralph Uwazuruike, Uche Okwukwu, and Prince Orjiakor received $5,000 from Biafra Foundation, what did they do with the $5000?

What did Biafra Foundation do with the rest of the money which is about $10,000? Who are the members of Biafra Foundation? Who is the treasurer? Is Biafra Foundation registered with IRS as non profit organization? Who is their banker? In case those who donated money want to use that as tax exempt, has Biafra Foundation given out their tax-exempt IRS code? What does Biafra Foundation stand for? Those of us who feel cheated and left out want to know what the constitution and charter of Biafra Foundation are.

We are angry now. Biafra Foundation took money for MASSOB of Igboland and they are all hiding what they did with the money. We want to know it. If they want any of us to believe in their leadership, they have to tell us how much they collected from us and what they did with the money.

---

And,

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eno Udoh:
Sundiatta,

The only way you will know the truth is to ask questions. Ask Biafra Foundation to tell how much money they collected for Biafra House opening. Make them tell you how much they gave to MASSOB. Ask Chief Uwazuruike about his conversion and his moslem name. Sharia people no do dis kin thing for secret o. All these people are still alife and can be contacted to talk.

You say that you like your drink and don't see anything wrong about that. Okay. But when you expect people to lead by example, they should noy get drunk in public. It does not bring prestige to MASSOB or to MASSOB followers. A leader who makes his weakness known to the enemy can be brought down thru it.

[ December 23, 2001: Message edited by: Eno Udoh ]

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##############################
In the unlikely event that Mr. "Nwa Biafra" is not the same person as Oguchi Nkwocha, then I apologize in advance.

I suppose that the misappropriations of national funds and human rights violations under Buhari and Shagari should disqualify them from leadership of Arewa Forum?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Yara Wasa Bature:
You see what I mean? Listen to the so-called Nkwocha supposedly a leader with his vision and thuggery. Would such an arrogant control freak be healthy for your new Biafra?

Think, guys!

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I agree with you that we must persevere. But, some of those misdeeds took place during the first Biafra under an atmosphere of confusion. This time around, we have the opportunity to do it right. We have the opportunity to demand accountability.