The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) on Wednesday took a swipe at the Leader of Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, berating him for his utterances over a meeting which Ohanaeze President General, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, recently held with held Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and other top officers of the group.

Uwazuruike had in a statement declared that BIM and his faction of MASSOB would no longer recognise Nnia Nwodo as the Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

In a statement made available to journalists in Awka, signed by the National Director of Information of MASSOB, Comrade Samuel Edeson, the group said that Uwazuruike’s reaction is a sign of frustration.

The statement reads: “It is on records that he was expelled from MASSOB on 30th Nov, 2015 at our former headquarters, Okwe. Uwazuruike should focus in his BIM movement as he remained expelled from MASSOB.

“MASSOB under the leadership of our vibrant leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu has overgrown this level of internal rancour and unjustified jealousy.

“MASSOB is more seriously working in building a lasting, concrete and brotherly relationship among all the genuine pro Biafra groups for easier collaboration of the struggle for Biafra actualisation and restoration.”

Uwazuruike in his reaction yesterday through a telephone interview with journalists in Awka explained that his action followed Nwodo’s meeting with Uchenna Madu, whom he described as an expelled member of MASSOB.

He said: “It was a deliberate move by Nwodo to spite my person as the Leader and founder of MASSOB/BIM that is why he (Nwodo) invited one Uchenna Madu in a meeting yesterday in Enugu knowing very well that Madu had been expelled.

“Nwodo is fully aware of his intentions knowing very well that Madu is no longer a MASSOB member and he invited him for a meeting as MASSOB leader, when the said Madu does not have executive members or followership.

“For this singular action, members of MASSOB/BIM across the world of which I am the leader have from today Aug.30, 2017 denounced John Nnia Nwodo as the leader of Ohanaeze.”

Uwazuruike also noted that he sent an SMS to Nwodo on the position of his pro-Biafra groups the same morning, adding that Nwodo in his reply said: ‘Congratulation and thank you’.

Uwazurike further accused Nwodo of using the platform of the Ohanaeze leadership to project himself as a vice presidential candidate of a political party from Igbo extraction in the next general election.

In a clear tone of anger, he challenged Nwodo and Madu to organise a rally for the public to see Madu’s strength and followership in the pro-Biafra struggle.

He added: “On Sept.13, MASSOB and BIM members under my leadership will hold a mega rally in Onitsha in support of the November 18 governorship election in Anambra, to reassure the people that the threat of ‘no election in Anambra is very hollow’.

“We equally want Nwodo to tell Uchenna Madu and his group to hold similar rally to showcase their strength for the world to see those against the Anambra governorship election from holding.

“There were seven pro-Biafra groups that attended Ohanaeze meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017 in Enugu; none of these groups, including Uchenna Madu, was officially invited for the meeting.

“They all came on their own and after their presentations, the leadership of Ohanaeze advised them to be peaceful and law abiding in their actions and dealings.”

Update news