From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha, Obinna Odogwu, Ekwulobia and Okey Sampson, Aba
Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB)/ Biafran Independent Movement (BIM) has raised the alarm over alleged sinister plot to arrest and detain its members by security agents during the planned Biafran Day celebration kicking off on May 22.
MASSOB-BIM leader for Anambra South Zone, Chief Arinze Igbani raised the alarm yesterday at Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area when he led members of the group to pay their last respect to a fallen member, late Mrs Goodness Nwadioramma, a.k.a Mama Holy Ghost.
Igbani said the secret plot discovered by MASSOB intelligence unit revealed that the Army, Police and other members of a codenamed Joint Security Task Force were allegedly getting ready to swoop on their members even when they are non-violent in their approach to the Biafran republic struggle.
The MASSOB leader tasked governors of the entire South East and South-South states, where the bulk of their members operate, to ensure, as the chief security officers of their respective states, that no MASSOB-BIM member is molested, injured, harassed or arrested during their weeklong activities.
Igbani said governors of the two geo-political zones owe it as a duty to protect their people against any form of attack by security agents who are supposed to give them protection in the first instance.
He advised Igbo people to celebrate the Biafran Day anniversary anywhere they find themselves without fear, noting that the group cannot be cowed into submission in their own land and territory.
A member of MASSOB-BIM Council of Elders, Chief Jahway Okosi, while adding his voice asked Ndigbo to be proud of identifying themselves as Biafrans, stating that it is only through Biafra that the Igbo man can get their real benefits as citizens and not in Nigeria.
Also, the MASSOB- BIM, Anambra South Zonal Director of Transport, Chief Charles Oputa advised all transporters to remain attentive to instructions during the Biafran match past and other activities lined up for the anniversary. He said there will be no road obstructions of any kind, rather, they will ensure free flow of traffic so that no Igbo man will be subjected to unnecessary suffering as they celebrate.
Meanwhile, the group has warned that it did not order its members to sit-at- home as it celebrates.
MASSOB-BIM disclosed that it would not frustrate the struggle by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as it celebrates 50 years of the declaration of a Biafra state.
This revelation was made at the weekend by the Personal Assistant to Uwazuruike who is
also the newly appointed MASSOB leader for Anambra Central zone, Emmanuel Omenka.
“Everybody knew our general, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared a Biafra state on May 30, 1967, and our leader, Chief Uwazuruike hoisted Biafra flag at Aba, Abia State on May 22, same year, so, it is 50 years of our existence and we will peacefully mark it.
“On the 22nd of this month, we will start by having procession throughout Biafra land, we will be in our uniform and with our flag, the next day, there will be football matches all over Biafra land.”
In a related development, a Biafra Christian body, the Christian Association of Biafra (CAB), an equivalent body of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has said it would join MASSOB/BIM to celebrate Biafra independence on May 22.
In a release signed by Rev. Josiah Ohuoba, CAB said the decision to join MASSOB/BIM in the celebration was taken at the meeting of her executive body called Biafra Clergy Parliament (BCP), which it said would also be fully involved in the celebrations.
Describing Biafra as a divine mandate, Rev Ohuoba said: “We, in CAB pray for the actualisation of Biafra which is a divine project. We are all Biafrans by birth and our duty is to bring God down to actualise Biafra.
“There have been several revelations from God that He has declared Biafra as His divine project, that Biafra is a sovereignty, its actualisation is certain, but no date has been revealed to us,” he said.
While preparing for the independence celebration, he urged all Igbo to embrace Biafra in peace and return to God Almighty through His son Jesus Christ and for Igbo to love one another.
Day: MASSOB/SD
Biafra Day: MASSOB raises alarm on security crackdown
.There’ll be no sit-at-home –MASSOB
From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha, Obinna Odogwu, Ekwulobia and OKEY SAMPSON, Aba
Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Biafran Independent Movement (BIM) have raised alarm over a sinister plot to arrest and detain its members by security agents during the planned Biafran Day celebration kicking off on May 22.
MASSOB-BIM leader for Anambra South Zone, Chief Arinze Igbani raised the alarm yesterday at Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area when he led members of the group to pay their last respect to a fallen member, late Mrs Goodness Nwadioramma, a.k.a Mama Holy Ghost. Igbani noted that the secret plot discovered by MASSOB intelligence unit has revealed that the Army, Police and other members of a codenamed Joint Security Task Force are getting ready to swoop on their members even when they are non-violent in their approach to the Biafran republic struggle.
The MASSOB leader tasked governors of the entire South East and South-South states where the bulk of their members operate to ensure, as the chief security officers of their respective states, that no single MASSOB-BIM member is molested, injured, harassed or arrested during their weeklong activities.
Igbani said governors of the two geopolitical zones owe it as a duty to protect their people against any form of attack by security agents who are supposed to give them protection in the first instance. He advised Igbo people to celebrate the Biafran Day anniversary anywhere they find themselves without fear, noting that the group cannot be cowed into submission in their own land and territory.
A member of MASSOB-BIM Council of Elders, Chief Jahway Okosi, while adding his voice asked Ndigbo to be proud of identifying themselves as Biafrans, stating that it is only through Biafra that the Igbo man can get his real benefits as a citizen and not in Nigeria.
Also, the MASSOB- BIM, Anambra South Zonal Director of Transport, Chief Charles Oputa advised all transporters to remain attentive to instructions during the Biafran match past and other activities lined up for the anniversary. He said there will be no road obstructions of any kind, rather, they will ensure free flow of traffic so that no Igbo man will be subjected to unnecessary suffering as they celebrate.
Meanwhile, the group has warned that it did not order its members to sit-at- home as it celebrates.
MASSOB-BIM disclosed that it would not frustrate the struggle by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as it celebrates 50 years of the declaration of a Biafra state.
This revelation was made at the weekend by the Personal Assistant to Uwazuruike who is
also the newly appointed MASSOB leader for Anambra Central zone, Emmanuel Omenka.
“Everybody knew our general, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu declared a Biafra state on May 30, 1967 and our leader, Chief Uwazuruike hoisted Biafra flag at Aba, Abia State on May 22, same year, so, it is 50 years of our existence and we will peacefully mark it.
“On the 22nd of this month, we will start by having procession throughout Biafra land, we will be in our uniform and with our flag, the next day, there will be football matches all over Biafra land.”
Similarly, a Biafra Christian body, the Christian Association of Biafra (CAB) an equivalent body of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says it was joining MASSOB/BIM to celebrate Biafra independence on May 22.
In a release signed by Rev. Josiah Ohuoba CAB said the decision to join MASSOB/BIM in the celebration was taken at the meeting of her executive body called Biafra Clergy Parliament (BCP) which it said would also be fully involved in the celebrations.
Describing Biafra as a divine mandate, Rev Ohuoba said: “We in CAB pray for the actualisation of Biafra which is a divine project. We are all Biafrans by birth and our duty is to bring God down to actualise Biafra.”