The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, demanded six new republics in the country, including Biafra Republic.

Thousands of MASSOB members who thronged the Ojukwu Memorial Centre in New Owerri in the maiden edition of the commemoration of Biafran Day on May 30 when the late Igbo Leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, declared the Republic of Biafra in I967 said it was time for the Igbo to have their own republic.

MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, clad in the navy blue Biafran uniform with the other members of his group urged the Federal Government to do the will of God and let their people go.

Uwazuruike who addressed the large followers of the group with two representatives of MASSOB in the United Kingdom, Mrs. Francese Joseph and Tina Joseph, said May 30 was a turning point in the life of every Igbo man.

“It is the watershed in the history of the geographical expression called Nigeria. It is the aftermath of the mistake of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates by Lord Lugard.

“It is the reflection of the deep-rooted hatred among the major ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. It exposes the irreconcilable disdain existing between Islam and Christianity. It is all about a failed state called Nigeria,” Uwazuruike said.

He pointed out that 47 years after Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra, the reasons that informed his decision are still evident in the country.

“The reality of May 30 can no longer be hidden, but the Abuja politicians and contractors are not deterred. They believe in the elusive one Nigeria, the one Nigeria that is their cash cow. The one Nigeria that is their source of corruption and impunity. The one Nigeria that is their instrument for inequality. The one Nigeria that is shielding them from all sorts of evils,” the MASSOB leader said.

Uwazuruike lamented that it was disturbing that it was the common man who bears the brunt of the evil perpetrated by the Abuja politicians and contractors, who he said God has hardened their hearts like Pharaoh of Egypt.

He noted that as long as the intent and purpose of the amalgamation of North and South were to cheat the South, the country would never fly.

Looking at the state of the country, he said: “The exercise was not done with clean hands. It failed to receive the blessing of God. That is why Nigeria remains a crawling baby after 50 years. The anger of God is on Nigeria. There is too much blood in Nigeria. The blood of the common man is used to sustain the evil called Nigeria. Insecurity in Nigeria can never abate. It is the sign of the anger of God.”

He, therefore, warned that his group would not guarantee its non-violent posture if anywhere in Igbo land is bombed or attacked by any militia or whatever group.

He said the only solution to solve problems of Nigeria was to grant independence to the six geo-political zones of the country.

“National Conference cannot solve the problems of Nigeria because there is deep-rooted hatred among the different nationalities. The hatred is so deep and cannot be wished away. We only pretend to love ourselves. The hatred is natural. It is in our blood. No amount of preaching on nationalism can change Nigeria.

“The only solution is to divide Nigeria into six geo-political zones: namely, South East (Biafra); South West; South South; North East; North West; and North Central,” he suggested, adding that was what Ojukwu tried to achieve in 1967 but was misunderstood.

•Source: Saturday Sun.

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