The people of the Niger Delta area and former eastern region are part of Biafra, and remain committed to the actualization of an independent state of their own, leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign States of Biafra, MASSOB, Solomon Chukwu, has said.
The new MASSOB leader also stated that the people of Biafra cannot find peace in Nigeria until the Republic of Biafra is achieved, where there will be limitless freedom to develop their land.
Speaking through MASSOB’s National Director of Information, Sunny Okereafor, Chukwu dismissed reports that the people of South South states like Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Cross River, are not Biafrans, claiming that the former eastern region has refused to be deceived by what he described as federal government’s divide and rule policy.
According to him, “Anybody who says that Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Cross River states are not part of Biafra is deceiving himself. These are Biafran territories. Biafra encompasses all the states of the former Eastern region, including Anioma clan in Delta state. It has been part of the Federal government’s divide and rule policy to tell the World that only Ndigbo want Biafra; but this is false. Do you remember Ojukwu’s second in command, Philip Effiong? Was he not from Akwa Ibom? When he was here, can anybody doubt his commitment to the actualization of Biafra?
“If you see the kind of support from the local people of Ugep, Ikom, Ogoja and adjoining areas when we held our meeting there last week at Ugep, you will be shocked. Over 2,000 people registered as MASSOB members at that meeting. In fact, from what we saw at the meeting, the people of Ogoja, Ugep and Ikom are more Biafra than even Ndigbo”.
The MASSOB leader insisted that part of the marginalization of the former eastern region in Nigeria is the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, despite successive court orders, granting him bail, calling on the federal government to release him without delay.
“Nnamdi Kanu is from Eastern Nigeria; this is why he is being held despite court order. His detention is part of the larger plot to continue to marginalize our people and frustrate Biafra, but we can never be deterred. Biafra is the answer”, he said.
Chukwu, who commended MASSOB’s Regional Administration for Ogoja, Rex Egberebi, for the massive mobilization of members in Ogoja, urged them to insist on the group’s non-violent approach to the struggle, stressing that Biafra would soon be achieved.
Biafra is a BAD idea of fighting the right thing in a wrong way. When u’re fighting the right thing in the wrong way, it has made u a failure even at the beginning, ur success will not see the light of day.
When u think u n ur people are left behind, fight ur fight to have equal benefits of the nation – not a breakaway of d nation. If u say u’ll not listen, for d safety of others, LEAVE d Niger Delta alone. Don’t try to take them along because of ur greed for their oil wealth. Let ur fight just be for the South Eastern States which’re purely for Igbos u said u’re fighting for.
My answering Adamu doesn’t mean my father is not from d South South. We don’t want Biafra, n dat’s final. Don’t try to force it on us because of the few little people u just went gaining their support!
No SOUTH SOUtTH STATES ARE NOT BIAFRAN TERRITORIES
Adamu thank you for your interesting comment on this Biafra issue. I disagree as an Akwa Ibom indegine that Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, and Bayelsa States are part of Biafra and including their territories. As a matter of fact we do not understand the meaning of Biafra in the first place. What is Biafra? I also disagree that Ugep, Ikom, Ogoja and adjoining areas of Cross River state actually attended the meeting, and resolved to be members of MASSOP or will want to be MASSOP members or/and part of Biafra . I believe also that the 2,000 people you claimed registered as members of MASSOP are not real indigenes of Cross River State from the areas you metioned. For me this is a cheap propaganda to make sense that you’re being supported by some Cross River State people . As it may be, I believe the people you are referring to as have registered as MASSOP memebers are Igbos residing in those areas. By the way, have you soon forgotten the land dispute and the killings and other attrocities meted to Adadama people of Cross River State by your igbo people recently? Ugep people you have metioned as having registered with MASSOP is in Obubra Local government Area of Cross River State, and I believe they would not even welcome you with Biafra idea. Why would it be only 2,000 people interested in Biafra or MASSOP membership in all the areas you have mentioned and included in this article?. If these people and their states (Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa) really want to belong to Biafra, don’t you think they certainly would have protested , agitated, held rallies for Biafra along side with you? Why is it not possible for MASSOP or IPOB to hold rallies and protests in these States? You might also argue that it happened in Rivers and Delta states, but what did the Rivers State Government say after the unsuccessful rally? What did the other people of Delta state say about this issue of Biafra? What is Biafra? Give us an historical reason or reasons that made you think Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa states belong to Biafra? Please answer the above simple but factual questions with all amount of honesty and so back it up with evidences to support your claim.
Regarding late Philip Effiong , that man actually was from my Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, but history tells us that his entire village (Ikot Ekpenyong) in Ibiono Ibom Local government area of Akwa Ibom State was completely burnt or razed down, its inhabitants killed, married and unmarried women raped and killed, and livelihoods of the people including goats, ships, cows, chicken, food and household items gathered away by the same Biafran army whom he led as second in command during the war. I am sure you have no idea that that Philip Effiong is late. The late Philip Effiong made a mistake, and had apologised to the people of Ibiono Ibom and indeed the entire Akwa Ibom State people for his part and involment in that senless war. The truth is that no one person from Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa states would want to be reminded of that atrocity, talk less of when the word Biafra is mentioned or anything associated with Biafra is mentioned. I am sure similar tales could be told in other part of Akwa Ibom State, nay other part of the South South region. Were Philip Effiong still alive today, I strongly believe that, he certainly would deny, reject and abandon Biafra with no reservations or excuses. Please I would like to refer you back to late Philip Effiong’s surrendering or renouncing speech broadcast to Nigerians and the world at large.
One of the mistakes that Biafra is again making is the audacity to even think, believe or consider that (Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa and of course including some parts of Delta states) want or wish to belong to Biafra. Our attitude toward Biafra is determined by your past and present attitude toward us as people. The past and present experiences with Biafra, and about you do not in any way entice us to be part of you. To present façade of unity on each and every issue of Biafra would be artificial, undemocratic, and patently pretentious. The more the issue of Biafra are aired and opened up for public debate, the more exposed you are for your inadequacies, criminal intentions to forcefully claim, annexed, dominate our south/south states to your evil dream of Biafra. The more you exhibit these tendencies to claim, or annex our territories even in proxy will be resisted, and the more resentful we will even be silent toward your struggle. Please pay attention to what people are saying about this issue of Biafra and the states you have boldly mentioned and included in the Biafra scheme. Please, hold a referendum of the people to be sure. I believe this would be reasonable and fair enough to begin with. Otherwise stop building castle in air because it will not stand.
Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful, humble respectable and God fearing people and land of the core south South will again experience the oppression of one by another tribe and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the Igbos. The sun shall never set on the so glorious people of the south south geographical region of Nigeria. MASSOP Leader I think and I know You are building castle in the air. Let us be reasonable. God Bless South South States, God Bless Nigeria.