NNEWI — MOVEMENT for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has vowed to continue the struggle for the actualisation of Biafra even if an Igbo man was elected the President of Nigeria. Addressing a press conference, yesterday in Amauko in Nnewi Ichi ahead of the 26th August voluntary Stay-at-Home order by MASSOB, the Igbo Chief Administrator of Zone Two MASSOB Nnewi, Mr. Johnbosco Ahazu said, “MASSOB is not interested in who becomes the President of Nigeria but rather, bent on actualising a Sovereign Biafra. According to him, “Biafra is at hand and we are moving on, on 26th August there will be no war or violence, but what we are going to do that day is we will stay at home, we want to know how things will move that day.
“The Nigeria government thinks that Igbo people are relevant, but when you check all endeavours of life, the Igbo are the people that make Nigeria thick, that is why we have decided that we will stay at home that day so that Nigeria will know that without Igbo people, nothing will move well in this country”.
Also speaking during the press conference, Eastern Assistant Director of Mobilization, Mr. Isaac Israel Onumaegbu alleged that over 10,000 members of MASSOB were being detained in police and prison cells across the country, but maintained that they would not be deterred in their struggle inspite of police harassment, intimidation and killing of their members.
“We are urging the Federal Government of Nigeria led by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to prevail on the police to release our members being detained in various cells in Nigeria, because they did not commit any crime to warrant their arrest and continued detention. “That act shows that there is no democracy in Nigeria if not, how can you arrest a person who has no gun or any weapon just because he belongs to an association.
“If they like, let them bring out all the police and army in the country on that 26th August, it will not stop us from our voluntary Stay-at-Home exercise. All we know is that we must actualize Biafra, Biafra is our home, it is the surname of every easterner and Igboman. Nigeria has neglected Igbos for over 36 years now, and we have been in Nigeria helping to build the nation but we are still regarded as slaves, our people are daily maltreated in the north, any problem we will be the target of attack, we will not continue that way.
“Just look at Onitsha-Owerri road, Asaba-Enugu Express Way, Aba-Port Hacourt Express way just to mention but a few, they are all death traps, the Federal Government keeps playing politics with them,” said Onwuamaegbu.
“I laugh at those who said they want Igbo Presidency, but I tell them that they will not get it because the people at the helm of affairs are not honest and will not allow an Igbo man to become President in 2007; nothing good will come out from Nigeria for an Igbo man as it stands now”.
Meanwhile police in Onitsha yesterday morning arrest a newspaper distributor Mr. Titus Ugwu for distributing a newspaper ““New Republic”” believed to have contained stories on Biafra and the voluntary sit at home order.
Tension is mounting in Onitsha over the voluntary sit-at-home order by MASSOB.
