Members of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB) in Onitsha, Anambra State have said that the clampdown on its members by President Muhammadu Buhari would not silence the movement until the Biafra state is actualised.
MASSOB Deputy Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, stated this yesterday in Onitsha while speaking with journalists. His words, “Buhari cannot stop us from actualisation of a sovereign state of Biafra even if he sends the entire security operatives in the country to the South East and South South geo-political zones.”
He described the action of the Federal Government as an, “act of cowardice because we are a non-violent organisation fighting to actualise a Biafra Republic.”
Mocha said that policemen, soldiers and other security operatives barricaded the road leading to Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Library in Owerri, Imo State with Armoured Personel Carrier (APC) in a bid to stop MASSOB activities.
“Those who wanted to pass to and from the area were thoroughly searched while our members who were coming to attend a meeting were prevented from entering the library venue,” he disclosed.
“Our leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who wanted to preside over the executive meeting had to put it off, citing security reason and to avoid casualty on the side of MASSOB.”
He insisted that Buhari cannot stop them from existing, stressing,” if OBJ as president, who hated Ndigbo and what we stood for could not stop MASSOB for eight years, is it Buhari that will stop us.”
Also, in a remark, Nnewi South Regional administrator, Mr. Tony Nwodo noted that, “Uwazuruike had urged the United States to resue the Igbo nation from the Federal Government’s marginalisation and we look up to America for our emancipation.”
We are fighting for a sovereign state of Biafra, which we marked its 16th year anniversary few days ago, saying that “struggle would be, forward ever and backward never.”
Meanwhile, officers of the Nigerian Army, Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) yesterday barricaded the road leading to Ojukwu Memorial Library in Owerri, Imo State, to stop the pro-Biafran group’s meeting at the venue.
This was disclosed by the Deputy National Director of Information of MASSOB, Mazi Chris Mocha.
He said MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, consequently, cancelled the MASSOB executive meeting to avoid casualties.
Mocha stated in a text message to Daily Sun Newspaper: “Citing security reports and threats of arrest and to avoid casualties on the side of MASSOB, Uwazuruike re-scheduled an Exco meeting scheduled for today (yesterday). Right now, in Owerri, the APC-led Federal Government has barricaded the road leading to Ojukwu Memorial Library, with armoured vehicles, with the DSS, Police and soldiers searching people and preventing them from gaining access to the meeting venue.
“If former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who hates Ndigbo and what they stand for, could not stop MASSOB in his eight years as president, is it the Buhari’s administration that will stop us? It is not possible because we are fighting for our right.
“Tell me a country, where non- violent freedom agitators are chased around the way MASSOB is. It is not done anywhere. But that cannot deter us.”
Quoting Uwazuruike, the MASSOB spokesman called on the international community, including America, to come to the rescue of MASSOB.
