The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday embarked on a peaceful protest in Umuahia, Abia State capital, and Awka, capital of Anambra State, demanding, among other things, the immediate sacking of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Atahiru Jega.

The group also demanded that the Igbos resident in other parts of Nigeria should urgently return home before the elections.

The Biafran independence agitators, numbering about 1,000, who assembled at Bank Road from where they proceeded to march through major streets in Umuahia, alleged that the conduct of the INEC boss in preparation for the forthcoming general elections smacks of bias and partisanship.

It was learnt that the protest was in compliance with the directive by MASSOB Leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, who had earlier called for Jega’s removal because of loss of public confidence.

Chanting pro-Biafran songs, the placard-bearing MASSOB activists marched through Government House and visited some media houses in the state capital. Some inscriptions on the placards read: “Jega must go,” “We the neighbouring state of Biafra want to help our brothers in Nigeria,” etc.

Leader of MASSOB in Abia Central zone, Mrs. Comfort Ogbuokiri, told journalists that their grouse against Jega was his alleged secret pact with the North to conduct the presidential poll in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), who is of northern extraction.

MASSOB alleged that Jega had made himself a willing tool in the hands of Northern elements to work against the electoral fortunes of President Goodluck Jonathan, insisting that he must quit and clear his name of the many accusations levelled against him.

Another MASSOB official, Chief Peter Onyema said “another person with clean records” should be appointed to head INEC if the outcome of the forthcoming elections should be acceptable to all parties in the country.

On why MASSOB is meddling in Nigeria's affairs since the group is seeking self-determination, Onyema said that as long as they remained in Nigeria, they would not keep mute on any form of injustice being committed in the country.

According to him, the protest was held simultaneously by MASSOB members in every state of the country and in Diaspora, adding that they were not scared of security agents because they were non-violent.

He urged the Igbo living outside the South-East geo-political zone to return home before the elections so that they would not be targets of post-election violence as was the case in 2011.

The Biafran activists expressed optimism that their agitation for self determination would soon be realised, adding that their non- violence posture would be maintained.

In Awka, protesting MASSOB members displayed placards some of which read, “Jega wants to rig 2015 elections”; “We want Jega to go”; “Jega’s body language shows where his interest lies” and “Jega wants to use the election to cause chaos”.

The protesters blocked the Amawbia end of the popular Zik’s Avenue, close to the Anambra State Police Headquarters, causing traffic jam in the process.

The protest, which lasted for about 30 minutes, did not witness any challenge from any security operative while motorists and passersby hailed them for their courage in coming out to protest.

Most of the MASSOB members, who adorned themselves with Biafran military uniforms with their ranks, took over the control of traffic in the area for the 30minutes the protest lasted.

According to their spokespersons, Messrs Jaweh Okosi, the Awka Central administrator, and Arinze Igbani, the regional administrator, MASSOB was no longer comfortable with what Jega is doing as the date of the election draws near.

“Jega has to go because he is causing confusion. He had wanted to conduct the election when his commission was not ready and even now, he is still not prepared. We do not want the election to be postponed again and the only way to ensure a credible, free and fair election is for Jega to go so that another person can take over and conduct the elections,” they said.

But in a swift reaction, a chip group of MASSOB through its National Director of Information, Mr. Uchenna Madu, dismissed the Awka protest, saying it is against the interest of the organisation.

The splinter group, which has Madu as its spokesman, faulted the Awka protest, adding that it diminished the image and status of the organisation.

In a statement made available to the media, Madu accused Uwazurike of commercialising himself, describing as shameful, what he called the MASSOB leader’s uncontrolled romance with politicians who he has become their errand boy.

“Public protest for the removal of Jega should be for civil rights groups, non-governmental organisations and sponsored groups, but definitely not MASSOB which is Biafran agitation group,” Madu said.

•Photo by Pamela Eboh shows MASSOB members protesting against Jega . . . yesterday in Awka.

Update news