posted
Folks, OBJ'S war machine against Ndi-igbo is at it again. This man will not stop until he meets his water-loo.
UWAZURUIKE MASSOB LEADER MISSING
MASSOB leader missing •3 days after police raid EMMA OGU, Owerri ( Champion Newspaper 12.12.04 )
THREE days after security operatives from the Imo State police command invaded his home and stopped a meeting of his Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), the whereabouts of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike remains unknown.
Authorities of the police command in the state said that indeed its personnel invaded venue of the meeting last Friday but denied that the MASSOB leader was in its custody. Confusion still reigns in Okwe, in Onuimo Local Council, hometown of Uwazuruike, with many apprehensive of what may have become the fate of Uwazuruike.
It was gathered that MASSOB members from different parts of the country were holding their meeting at Chief Uwazuruike’s premises when the policemen numbering about two hundred landed in trucks. One of the MASSOB officials who escaped unhurt, Mr Isaac Israel told our correspondent that the whereabout of Chief Uwazuruike was still unknown as the policemen took over the premises and sealed off all possible escape routes.
Israel said he found his way into a nearby bush and on his way out he found more trucks conveying policemen advancing towards Okwe. Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Chike Nwabuwa confirmed the invasion of Okwe by policemen but could not confirm any arrest as at press time. "Yes our men went there and as at now I am talking to you (4.12 p.m) they are not yet back so I cannot give additional information on what transpired there," he said.
Nwabuwa told our corespondent that the police command received information that the MASSOB members were holding a rally in Okwe and therefore dispatched its men to arrest them. "You know they did not apply for permission to hold the rally. And you know too that, that association is illegal. It is not known in any Nigerian record so that is why our men went there," he said.
The police spokesman added that his men were still in Okwe as at 4.12 pm. It will be recalled that a combined team of policemen and members of the State Security Services, SSS, last October carried out similar invasion in Okwe during which two MASSOB members were arrested and materials said to be Biafran souvenirs confiscated. Chief Uwazuruike escaped arrest then.
Posts: 524 | From: USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Is he missing or is he just in hiding? It is time to stop all the crassness. Uwazuruike goes into hiding from SSS and Police is not the same thing as he is missing.
Posts: 167 | Registered: Mar 2001
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quote: THREE days after security operatives from the Imo State police command invaded his home and stopped a meeting of his Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), the whereabouts of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike remains unknown.
Authorities of the police command in the state said that indeed its personnel invaded venue of the meeting last Friday but denied that the MASSOB leader was in its custody.
Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Chike Nwabuwa told our corespondent that the police command received information that the MASSOB members were holding a rally in Okwe and therefore dispatched its men to arrest them. "You know they did not apply for permission to hold the rally. And you know too that, that association is illegal. It is not known in any Nigerian record so that is why our men went there," he said.
After reading the above quote I’m really confused now or could it be that I’m missing something. Does anyone know of a BiafraNigerian law that is broken when someone holds a meeting in his own home?
On one hand Mr. Nwabuwa confirms that his people went to Chief Uwazuruike’s home on the other hand he states that “you know they did not apply for permission to hold a rally.
Can someone please help me make sense of this report.
___________________ BIAFRA MUST RISE AGAIN. LONG LIVE BIAFRA!! Posts: 1080 | From: California, USA. | Registered: Oct 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Kunle: Is he missing or is he just in hiding?.... Uwazuruike goes into hiding from SSS and Police is not the same thing as he is missing.....
Kunle,
Would the newspaper have to spell it out? How would the one surviving member who was able to escape the illegal death-squad raid know what became of Ralph Uwazurike?, other than to establish that Uwazurike was at the meeting, and completely encircled by SSS death-squads when the raid occurred.
Had the newspaper claimed Uwazurike had come into harms way without substantiating that assertion, then your attempt at ridiculing their report as "crass" would maybe have pulled off the appearance of credibility.
As it is, your blinding Igbophobic fits of petty malice appear to be the only "crass" act betrayed and on display as usual.
NwaBiafra,
My brother, notice that the man left to do the speaking is yet again another Igbo man.
___________________ YA CAIN'T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN :) Posts: 1184 | From: TEXAS | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
Anything can happen in that Lawless country!
For those that want to rule undersuch failed system, i sympathize with u. unless we all fight to change the system, Uwazurike's faith today, might well be ours tomorrow. Join hands and fight to change the system. Let us not wait until it becomes personal!
I think the onus is on the SSS, since they are "ona na ndo ahu onwa" they should be able to tell where Uwazurike is. This nonsense must stop, where a state aparatuse is used to terrorize the people it should be protecting.
Posts: 380 | From: US | Registered: Dec 2004
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My brother, notice that the man left to do the speaking is yet again another Igbo man.~~~~Ukaobasi
Brother Ukaobasi,
I noticed that too that utterance actually brought me to a boilingpoint hence my quick write-up.
I can understand for the life of me why he left himself to be used in that manner. Having left himself to be so used, he could not even articulate the reason for the actions of his department without some many contradicting utterances.
___________________ BIAFRA MUST RISE AGAIN. LONG LIVE BIAFRA!! Posts: 1080 | From: California, USA. | Registered: Oct 2002
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If you know of any collaborators that should be stoned, why don't you name them. The whole idea is to shine a light in the darkness not ramble all day.
Posts: 1534 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Would you guys call all the Southern Governors collaborators?
Would you call all the Igbos in PDP Collaborators?
Or do you only call the mouthpiece of govt. destabilizing agencies collaborators?
Who are the collaborators?
Does it mean that any that betrays the igbo cause is a collaborator? If so, we might enlarge it to include all that benefit from the chaos that is now in place
Posts: 380 | From: US | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
It seems that there are peple who love to use Uwazurike's name to sell newspapers. Uwazuruke was not present during the raid. He is fine and in good condition.
___________________ No Biafran will be permitted to play Mother Theresa to the Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani, but play Osama Bin Laden to the Igbo or Biafrans! Posts: 1186 | Registered: Mar 2001
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THE whereabouts of the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, is unknown as armed mobile policemen numbering about two hundred and fifty stormed the Freedom Mansion in Okwe, Onuimo council area of Imo State last Friday.
This is the second invasion of the place in one week just as State Security Service (SSS) operatives in Lagos also invaded Chief Uwazuruike’s residence located at No. 22 Aji Jedudun Street, Ijeshatedo on Saturday to arrest him but he was not seen.
A similar action was carried out in Mbaise where the SSS men in Owerri took two MASSOB activists, Callistus Nwosu and Emeka Uhuoma from their homes around 5.30 a.m.
But the police in Owerri has denied any knowledge of the arrest of MASSOB leader’s just as the SSS claimed that Nwosu and Uhuoma were found to be in possession of Biafran currency and a gun. MASSOB lawyer, Mr. Chukwujeama Eze, however, has disputed it describing the arrest of the two activists as arbitrary and unlawful.
Meanwhile, Chief Uwazuruike was yet to be seen as at presstime but his Senior Security Adviser, Tochukwu Ume, told Sunday Champion that he was in the Freedom Mansion when mobile policemen led by Police Commissioner Hezekiah Dimka, stormed the place which is operational headquarters of MASSOB.
"They took us by surprise. Everyone around the Freedom House fled into the bush, but father (Chief Uwazuruike) was in the house. Till now (Saturday) we have not seen him. His jeep is parked here but his mobile phone is not ringing. We are still calling it. Our fear is whether he was arrested by them," he said.
From Lagos, wife of the MASSOB leader, Lolo Ngozi Uwazuruike, who spoke to our correspondent on telephone stated that seven men of the SSS arrived her house about 8.30 a.m. on Saturday in a navy blue Peugeot 505 wagon with registration number PF 764 GGE to arrest her husband.
She said the security operatives who were disappointed by his absence told her that their director-general ordered them to arrest Chief Uwazuruike.
"They left immediately, but they were disappointed," she said.
Police Public Relations Officer in Imo State, Mr. Isa Bala Mohammed, told Sunday Champion yesterday that he was not aware of the arrest of Chief Uwazuruike.
Asked why the command is looking for him, Mohammed replied: "Oh, you don’t know that he is trading on illegality. Someone who wants to topple an elected government, someone who wants to actualise his "whatever" through unconstitutional means. What he is doing is an illegality."
On his part, Assistant Director of Operations, SSS, Mr. Adiola Ajai said that Callistus Nwosu, one of the two persons arrested at Mbaise has been granted bail on the ground of his ill-health.
MASSOB lawyer, Mr. Eze, however, said the SSS claim that they were in possession of Biafran currency and a gun" was a mere allegation.
"It is just to give a dog a bad name in other to hang it," the SSS can go to any length to heap allegations on the activists in order to break their spirit.
"MASSOB is a non-violent organisation and possession of gun is inconsistent with their struggle. They do not carry gun," he said.
Mr. Eze further disclosed that Mr. Nwosu was released on bail following his pressure on SSS over his deteriorating ill-health and was immediately rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.
The lawyer - journalist also demanded for unconditional release of the other activist, Mr. Uhuoma.
"We told them (SSS) that this man is very ill and if he dies there, we shall hold them responsible. They now granted him bail with one surety and rushed him to hospital, FMC, Owerri. They should also grant unconditional release to Emeka Uhuoma or charge him to court if they feel that he committed any offence," Eze added.
posted
MASSOB should changed its name. Waging a battle without arms and being slaughtered, being jailed and being on the run everyday makes no sense.
This is the time to pause and find other means of achieving a sovereign independent state of Biafra. The present tactis are not working and it is not going to work. Many are being killed or jailed for nothing. People don't just come out to say they want to secede and continue to hold public meetings to secede and expect the government of the day to just keep quiet.
War on Apartheid was not fought that way. Look at what is happening now in Iraq. Who is winning the war? Please, do not tell me that Bush is winning.
Also, I read recently that the people of Niger Delta are threatening to declare an independent state of Niger Delta. Again, look at that stupidity and a way to give the government the opportunity to crush them and wipe them out and ending up losing everything.
Without declaring an independent state, the people of Niger Delta can force the Federal Government to a negotiating table by threating to burn all the oil fields. With the current high price of oil, now is the time to issue a threat. They can win the war without being crushed.
Coming back to MASSOB, I have a name for it. I think "Movement for Self-Determination" will keep the prying eyes of Government away from its activities.
What is clearly on the ground now is an indication that MASSOB appears to be a money making maching. Some of the Governors in that part of the country are Presidential candidates, come 2007. Under than one man, Uwazurike, who come out and set up MASSOB, who are the other "BIG GUNS" on the ground carring the flag behind him? Just practicall nobody except the jobless youths being used for fame, powerless power, and probably money.
MASSOB leader should be called to order. Nonviolent demonstration once a month will even work better than the present meaningless open confrontation with the well armed Federal forces.
Remember, I'm for Independent state of Biafra. But, the current means being used to actaulize it, is what I oppose strongly.
Posts: 296 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Corrections: MASSOB Should change and not changed.
Other than one man, Uwazurike , who came and not come.
The present tactics and not tactis.
If you find more, please alert me. I will not click again until a thorough read over.
Posts: 296 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
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quote:"They took us by surprise. Everyone around the Freedom House fled into the bush, but father (Chief Uwazuruike) was in the house.
Considering that everybody else suspected that this might happen due to Historical implications to these past few days, it is irresponsible for the above quotes and bolded to happen.
___________________ Feel me? Ofu onye ana asi unu abia go. - Ednut Igbo-American . www.airamericaradio.com visit her. Posts: 2503 | From: Mother Earth | Registered: Mar 2001
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___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2490 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
News report has revealed that 10 Massob members were arrested trying to hoist Biafra flag at Asaba, capital of Delta State.
Massob should please stop this madness. Asaba is not the capital of former Biafra state. Why not at Enugu, Aba, Onitsha, Owerri, Awka, Ogidi, you name it? Why the home state of a defenceless minority Igbo speaking group?
I have a question for Massob. Much as I would like to see a Biafra State, what is really on the ground now to achieve it? Nothing, nothing and nothing.
Posts: 296 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Rick, Your question to Massob is senseless and disgusting; in fact, I am sorry to tell you this but you make me sick with your incessant but clueless outbursts on Massob. Though past antecedents left little to be desired, you're now beginning to sound more paranoid. Has Massob become your latest nemesis?.
___________________ He likened the second coming of Christ to the realisation of the Biafran dream, stating that at a time people least expect, the much sought Biafra would be a reality..Rev. Fr. Cornelius Ezeiloaku Posts: 622 | From: santiago, chile | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
When somebody sticks to his guns on criticising what others are doing to better the situation of their kiths and kin (an ampler and suppressive demostrated boldness that caught even the enemy unawares), even going as far as accusing them of unsubstantiated corruption with no efforts to effect practical and positive change should be considered as absolute nonsense and unbecoming. The call for arm to Massob at this stage of it's struggle to for independence by a supposed Biafran actualisation activist is unwarrented hight of rascality and insensitivity mentioned on the plight of Igbo people in Nigeria.
The questions that needs urgent answer at this stage of the process are as follows: has the nonviolence worked on the sensitisation of the Biafran populace, is the nonviolence agitation popular among the majority, what effects is nonviolence made so far on Nigerian Government, are the world in general taking note of Massob comportment in the face grave provocation, how many times the leadership of the old attempt was accused of not having enough patience to evaluate it's projects before puesta en marcha, is the Igbo mentally and psychologically ready for another war?. Until this variables are considered and clarified. Massob and it's leader will continue to command my respect as the only organisation that has the best interest of NdiIgbo at heart.
___________________ He likened the second coming of Christ to the realisation of the Biafran dream, stating that at a time people least expect, the much sought Biafra would be a reality..Rev. Fr. Cornelius Ezeiloaku Posts: 622 | From: santiago, chile | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Massob is a toothless bulldog. They should disband for they are killing innocent youths. Currently, they do not have anything on the ground to achieve Biafra.
My take now is that the defenceless minority Igbo speaking in Delta State does not need Biafra Flag now. Keep the flag away for now while we watch the events in Nigeria as it continues to unfold.
Posts: 296 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
While some are watching and waiting from far away america, others are actually on the ground risking arrest and torture in Obasanjo gulag to keep the biafran dream in the conciousness. If massob is such a toothless bulldog, obasanjo does not seem to think so. why is Nigerian goverment all exited and anxious to have them done away with? They dont have anything on the ground? I beg to differ. They have thousands of active members and hundreds of thousands of suporters in Igboland, as the recent distribution and use of Biafran currency will show you. Have you ever been in onitsha or Aba when Massob is doing their rally? you will be surprised. If you doubt me just go to Ariaria or main market and make any thoughtless negative remarks about massob and see if you will not be lynched on the spot. As for raising of flag in Asaba, fact is that Asaba is not the only place that Biafra flag has been raised. it has been raised in all Igbo cities and hamlets, so Asaba should not be an exeption. It is only those who have been in diaspora for so long that they have actually lost contact, and know not what is happening at home, save for what they read in the news, that would discount MASSOB.
___________________ Biafra is inevitable.Illegitimis nil carborundum. Posts: 761 | From: europe | Registered: Jan 2005
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Advocate Rated: posted September 09, 2005 11:56 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Massob is a toothless bulldog. They should disband for they are killing innocent youths. Currently, they do not have anything on the ground to achieve Biafra.
My take now is that the defenceless minority Igbo speaking in Delta State does not need Biafra Flag now. Keep the flag away for now while we watch the events in Nigeria as it continues to unfold.
From Rex. RICK wants to 'watch the events in Nigeria as it continues to unfold' Rick, you have been watching all these events unfold since 1966. How much longer do want to wait and see how others play, and determine how you live? It is sad that the Igbo speaking Riverine and sorrounding areas have turned a deaf ear to the main Igbo cause. Answer these questions. Who LYNCHED KEN SARO WIWA? How has the Hausa/Youruba agenda benefited you in ONE NIGERIA? How long will you continue to deceive yourselves in thinking that Nigeria is your friend? The oil is the ONLY reason Hausa/Yoruba has given a Rats ass about you.
___________________ Rex. THE GOLDEN RULE is Golden Posts: 13 | From: Texas | Registered: Aug 2002
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___________________ The greatest thing about America is the right to disagree with the power structure without fear of torture or death at the hands of the government Posts: 217 | From: Ogallala, Nebraska, USA | Registered: May 2003
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This is not a time to allign with a bunch of rascals seeking fame and glory and at the same time sending innocent youths to their early graves.
I never told you that I am very keen obout ONE Nigeria. But to make it look OPENLY that a defenceless minority group is in full support of Biafra is surely in bad taste. They know who the enemies are.
What the people of south-south wants is resource control and dont give a rat ass (to use your own words) what hausas and yorobas are doing.
With resource control in place, agitation for Biafra will even be unnecessay. Hausa people will retire to the North to find something to produce. Yoruba, the same thing, South east will do likewise. There will be less money and power at the center and who cares who becomes President as long as they are not presiding over oil or other resources from other regions.
Posts: 296 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
And how will resource control come into place without pressure groups like Massob to demand and fight for it? Will it be presented on a platter of gold or drop from the heavens? And how about self goverment? can you realy have recource control with out having self goverment? It is not Massob who are the rascals as far as I am concerned, it is Obasanjo and his PDP goons and what they stand for.
___________________ Biafra is inevitable.Illegitimis nil carborundum. Posts: 761 | From: europe | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
What should have been an excellent post was made a laughing stock by claiming that "Massob is fighting for resource control. These guys just want state of Biafra out of the 5 main Igbo states in the East.
They assume also that once Biafra is achieved, the minority Igbo speaking group in Delta State will join. The Biafra that Chief Ojukwu fought for and lost should have been the one that would have attracted the Anioma people of Delta State and not the "Agu" hunger-to-be infested state that the present rascals are agitating for.
That Biafra that Chief Ojukwu fought for and lost should have been the whole of former Eastern Region. Ask me why the Anioma people of Delta State would have waited for a second to join what would have been a very developed country today?
To the agitators of Biafra:
Pretend that you have the State of Biafra. Then, go and turn it into another developed nation. Put simply, go and do in Biafra, what you should have done if you had Biafra. Do you need to secede to develop? No. Just do it.
Posts: 296 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Uwazuruike arrested, flown to Abuja – Punch.
I can’t phantom why someone in Mazi Ralph Uwazurike’s position should let himself loose. People in his position should have taken a cue from Abiola, Yar'adua and others who died while being held. Any reason why our brother failed to take precautionary measures to have a look-out at all times filter people who stroll around town? Does a two-way radio exist? The presence of unfamiliar faces or strangers of any kind, be them youth corpers, amala hawkers, hunters or stuff like should have had him and his handlers be on the alert. Anyone outside his inner crowd should have been avoided. We can’t get to our destination through carelessness, what we embarked upon calls for caution at all times. The affable Fela, the man who knew nigeria and her bulls.h.i.t inside out already said; the carpenter that left hammer and pliers in his shopping list to buy books, robes etc cannot get far. So also is a lawyer who refused to buy books and journals instead went on spending spree buying nails, hammer, level, toolbox etc. Guys, what happened to our war slogan: Onye ndi iro gbara gburu gburu…? Na helele o!
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2490 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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Uwazurike, is what one would term a "Rebel Leader", no matter how NOBLE his course is (n/b: I, very much believe, that his course is indeed noble and has remained somewhat consitent). He is considered a "rebel leader" by the country Nigeria, because he's going a against " societal norm" and inciting his "group" to resist the leadership of "the existing authority". These could be termed "treasonable" and hence this leader MUST tread carefully, [i.e. please dont go having group meeting in your living room or any other exposed location and even if u choose to, please be heavyly protected/guarded]...A rebel leader must never let his guard down and should not allow himself to be "arrested/picked-up", though it can happen and has been known to happen......
posted
We urge the government of nigeria to be extremely careful with the MASSOB leader, Mr. Ralph Uwazuruike. Charge to court if there is a crime, or let him go back to his business.
___________________ achieve Biafra and show the difference Posts: 646 | From: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: Nov 2002
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posted
well my Kudos to BIA- Biafran Intelligence agency. at least, they sent the warning some months ago about the existence of fake NYC "youth Corpers" in Okwe, monitoring Chief Uwazuruike:
Massob Raises Alarm: They Want to Kill Uwazuruike
Daily Champion (Lagos) July 6, 2005 Posted to the web July 6, 2005 Alphonsus Nweze Onitsha MOVEMENT for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has alleged fresh plot by security agencies to invade its Headquarters at Okwe near Okigwe, Imo State. The planned invasion, the organisation noted is part of orchestrated attempts by the Federal Government to clamp down on MASSOB and eliminate its leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike. Consequently it called on the United Nations (UN), Amnesty International, the international community, organisations and human rights bodies to intervene in the alleged latest plot to eliminate Chief Uwazuruike, and other key leaders of the movement. In a statemen made available to Daily Champion in Onitsha Anambra State, at the weekend, MASSOB alleged that a meeting by Nigeria's securities officials was held on Monday, June 20, between 9.00 a.m and 2.00 p.m. at the Federal Ministry of Defence where the attendees strategised on how to put a stop to MASSOB and its agitation by assassinating its key leaders. The statement signed by the MASSOB Director of Information, Mr. Uchenna Madu, said key Federal Government security officers attended the meeting which strongly criticised the police and the State Security Services (SSS) for treating MASSOB with kid gloves, especially at the early stage of the agitation before the movement gained confidence. According to MASSOB, some of the issues that engaged the meeting were United States of America's (USA's) prediction of Nigeria's likely break-up in the next 15 years, position of MASSOB on 2005. Census, circulation of Biafran currency, American troops stationed in the Gulf of Guinea and other issues. MASSOB alleged that the security officials at the meeting agreed that henceforth stiffer measures will be taken against MASSOB and consequently the military will take over the planned elimination of Chief Uwazuruike and his key officials. MASSOB said that last week, as part of the strategy, a pseudo organisation, Imo State National Youth Service corps organised a three-day religious crusade in disguise at Ezelu primary school, Okwe, just a kilo metre away from Chief Uwazuruike's house. The movement said that the crusade was used at a platform for military intelligence to spy and find possible ways of invading Chief Uwazuruike's house for the alleged planned assasination.
MASSOB also alleged that military men were seen moving around in NYSC uniform in disguise, adding that the movement will not be deterred or abandon the agitation because of such intimidation. The movement noted that freedom is not achieved on a platter of gold but through sacrifices, assenting that no intimidation will make them relent on the struggle for survival.
MASSOB also alleged that military men were seen moving around in NYSC uniform in disguise, adding that the movement will not be deterred or abandon the agitation because of such intimidation. The movement noted that freedom is not achieved on a platter of gold but through sacrifices, assenting that no intimidation will make them relent on the struggle for survival.
Having broken apart, Nigeria is now preparing for civil war.
Major-General Gowon, who was promoted from Colonel yesterday, is apparently ready to follow up his blockade of the breakaway east - now called Biafra - with a full-scale invasion. In this he presumably expects the support of Nigeria's partners in the Commonwealth and her fellow members of the UN and the OAU - at least the tacit support of respecting the blockade and not recognising Biafra.
It will be a futile war. It is unlikely to unseat the embattled government of Colonel Ojukwu, and even if it does, it will not achieve the declared aim of restoring a workable federation. For most of the Ibo, who predominate in the east, last year's massacres in the north - and their implied end to the free movement of Nigerians within their country - meant the effective end of the federation. To follow this up by an invasion would merely be to drive a nail in the coffin.
Biafia's non-Ibo minority is admittedly divided: some supporting Ojukwu's regime and others opposing it. Also, the presence of more than a million refugees - and the possibility of another million now arriving - has stored up a host of social and perhaps political problems for the self-proclaimed republic. But while the threat from Lagos lasts, support for Ojukwu will remain overwhelming. Invasion can only reinforce it further.
In reality it would not be a federal war as much as a northern one. The Yoruba of the western region are divided. Chief Awolowo, hitherto their most popular leader, has said - and apparently confirmed it after Biafra's secession - that the west would not wish to remain in a truncated federation. This section of the Yoruba, at any rate, would hardly support an invasion of Biafra. Similar reservations have been openly expressed in the midwest region.
In so far as it would be a northerners' war, one of its main objects would be revenge against the easterners for having dared to challenge federal, which is primarily northern, authority. One party in the north, at any rate, appears to want to teach the Ibo a lesson without any corresponding desire to keep them as federal partners. But the easterners are not the first to contemplate secession. The north openly threatened it in 1960 unless it was guaranteed half the seats in the federal parliament. It threatened it again last year unless General Ironsi repealed his "unitary decree". It proposed it once more in July and indeed, secession appeared to be Colonel Gowon's original intention when he assumed office. Now it is the easterners who have departed.
A deeper northern motive would be to secure the landlocked region's outlet to the sea. One of the two routes, through the east, is already blocked and the other, through the west, would be threatened if the west were to break away also. But could it be kept open in a federation maintained by force? The violent disorders in the west in 1965, in protest against the northern-backed regime of Chief Akintola, suggest that it could not. If Nigeria does break up, nothing could ensure the evacuation of northern produce more effectively than a Common Services organisation. This is perhaps the best solution to the Nigerian crisis. It is the kind of arrangement the north itself proposed in July last year - and the east has been proposing since then. Now, no region would benefit more from it than the north. By insisting on war the northerners would risk destroying their own vital interests.
Inevitably, outsiders have been drawn, into the conflict. The big shipping and trading companies, who have larger interests in the north and the west than in the east, are observing the blockade. The oil companies, whose exports all originate in the east, are in a different position and may be anxious for Biafra to be recognised. Britain could hardly do this until Colonel Ojukwu's breakaway regime has proved itself firmly in control.
But we should immediately make it clear to General Gowon that our only interest is in a stable solution and that war will bring this no nearer.
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